Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Berlin vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Sterling | Killingly | Berlin | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
3,378Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Foster 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Berlin-Boylston | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.