Compare towns
Springfield vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Lowell
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Springfield | Killingly | Sterling | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.5%Highest 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 |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| 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% |
21.7%±1.3 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$78,658±$4k 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 | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% 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% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest 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. |
1953 27 yrs older 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. |
28 min 6% 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% |
10.6%±1.3 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Killingly High School | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.