Compare towns
Orange vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Orange | Killingly | Sterling | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,315 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
14,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | 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 | 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.