Compare towns
Stafford vs Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Willington
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
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 | Stafford | Killingly | Sturbridge | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,511 |
17,867Highest |
9,960 |
5,575Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Stafford 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$91,114±$12k 13% 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. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,357±$116Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Willington and Sturbridge 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. |
$5,419 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Killingly 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64%Lowest 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. |
1976 4 yrs older 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest 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 | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Stafford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Willington School District |
| High school in town | Stafford High School | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.