Compare towns
Spencer vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Palmer Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Palmer Town has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Spencer | Killingly | Sterling | Palmer Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.8±5.6 23% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$78,480±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$271,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,075±$103 24% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Palmer Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,540 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Palmer Town and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #252 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Palmer · Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Killingly High School | None in town | Pathfinder Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.