Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Monroe vs Voluntown
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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Monroe has the highest household income ($157k).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Monroe | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867 |
18,949Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.5±2.2 6% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
25.2%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Monroe and Sterling 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% |
15.6%±2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Voluntown 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% |
57.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Monroe 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±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$157,250±$12kHighest 64% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$503,200±$31kHighest 37% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$994±$860Lowest 33% below CT |
$1,166±$191Highest 22% below CT |
| Voluntown and Killingly 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
48.8%±46.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Monroe and Voluntown 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
95.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.4%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Monroe 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 | #48 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Monroe School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Masuk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.