Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Northbridge
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 homeowners (81.1%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Killingly 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%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Northbridge 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest 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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Killingly 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% 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% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Killingly 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.