Compare towns
North Smithfield vs Killingly vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 Smithfield | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,708 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| North Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| North Smithfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±11.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Killingly and North Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | North Smithfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | North Smitfield HS | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.