Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Chaplin
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 most expensive homes ($289k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Putnam | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5 |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.