Compare towns

Springfield vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Ludlow

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).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (14%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldKillinglySterlingLudlow
People
Population
154,749Highest
17,867
3,629Lowest
20,904
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.8Highest
14% above U.S.
Ludlow and Killingly 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%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±2.4Lowest
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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ludlow and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27%Highest
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%
5.2%±1.7
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.
$84,838±$7k
5% above U.S.
Sterling and Ludlow 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.
$335,300±$10kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55
19% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
$1,223±$82Highest
13% below U.S.
Ludlow and Springfield 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.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
$4,918Highest
58% 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%
50.7%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Ludlow 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%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%
77.5%
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.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ludlow 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 #276 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #154 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Ludlow
High school in town Springfield Central High Killingly High School None in town Ludlow Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
11.1Lowest
—
11.1Lowest
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.