Compare towns
Sprague vs Thompson vs Killingly vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Sprague | Thompson | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Thompson and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$291,900±$24kHighest 20% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
— |
| Sprague and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Highest 30% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Thompson 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.