Compare towns

Providence vs Killingly vs Sterling vs North Providence

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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
North Providence has the oldest population (median age 42.1).

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.

MeasureProvidenceKillinglySterlingNorth Providence
People
Population
191,767Highest
17,867
3,629Lowest
34,293
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.8±0.5Lowest
16% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
42.1±1.9Highest
8% above U.S.
North Providence and Killingly 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%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Providence and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
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%
6.2%±1.4
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.
$83,756±$6k
4% 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.
$355,900±$12k
7% above U.S.
Providence and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$42Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
$1,405±$64
about the U.S. average
Providence and North Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$4,843Highest
55% 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%
42.7%±6.2
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%
9.3%
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%
63.9%
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.
1970
10 yrs older 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.
27 min
3% 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%
12.4%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Providence and North Providence 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 #26 of 38 in RI
School district MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District North Providence · Excel Academy Rhode Island
High school in town Classical High School Killingly High School None in town North Providence High
Students per teacherat that high school
17.2Highest
11.1Lowest
—
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.