Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Killingly has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
12,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Derby and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.