Compare towns

Stafford vs Killingly vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

MeasureStaffordKillinglySturbridge
People
Population
11,511
17,867Highest
9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.7±4.8
20% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
Stafford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Stafford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,235±$16k
15% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,800±$22kLowest
21% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,086±$85
23% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,131
65% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.5%±12.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #96 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #89 of 282 in MA
School district Stafford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Stafford High School Killingly High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
11.1Highest
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.