Compare towns

North Canaan vs Killingly 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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

MeasureNorth CanaanKillinglySterling
People
Population
3,221Lowest
17,867Highest
3,629
Median age
35.7±5.7Lowest
13% below CT
39.5±3Highest
4% 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%±2.3Lowest
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%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Killingly and North Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
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%
3.7%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Killingly and Sterling 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
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
Sterling and Killingly 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±$15kHighest
21% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,146±$152Highest
23% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
—
North Canaan and Killingly 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
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.1%±14.3Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
Killingly and Sterling 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%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%
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
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
15% below CT
28 min
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
12.1%±5.3Highest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
North Canaan and Sterling 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 #119 of 149 in CT
School district North Canaan School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.