Compare towns

Providence 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

Providence has the most renters (58.6% rent).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
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.

MeasureProvidenceKillinglySterling
People
Population
191,767Highest
17,867
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.5±3Highest
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±1
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,119±$3kLowest
16% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12kHighest
27% above U.S.
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,200±$8kHighest
9% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence 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 #36 of 38 in RI #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Classical High School Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
17.2Highest
11.1Lowest
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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.