Compare towns

Springfield 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

Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldKillinglySterling
People
Population
154,749Highest
17,867
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% 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
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Springfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% 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
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$288,600±$15kHighest
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
Springfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 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
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sterling and Killingly 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 #276 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Springfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Springfield Central High Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.1Lowest
—
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.