Compare towns
North Canaan vs Killingly vs Ashford vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Canaan has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | North Canaan | Killingly | Ashford | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,221Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,226 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 35.7±5.7Lowest 13% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±7.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| North Canaan and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,976±$26kLowest 25% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$59kLowest 27% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,146±$152 23% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
— |
| Ashford and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Lowest 41% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.1%±14.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #91 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Canaan School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashford School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.