Compare towns

Northbridge 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

Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.

MeasureNorthbridgeKillinglySterling
People
Population
16,458
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.8±2.6Highest
13% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Killingly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Northbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$448,600±$15kHighest
35% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,207±$102Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,821Highest
55% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 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
31 min
17% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
16.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Northbridge 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 #226 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Northbridge Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Northbridge High Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
11.1Highest
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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.