Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Groton vs Ashford
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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
Groton has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Groton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,490 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -9.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3Highest 4% below CT |
39±3.7 5% below CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ashford 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% |
38.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Ashford 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 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,577±$8kLowest 17% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$306,600±$26k 16% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Groton 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 |
$1,250±$98Highest 16% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Groton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,411 34% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
46.5%±11.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
18.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
45.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
18 minLowest 34% below CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
4.8%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | — | 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 |
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.