Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Sprague 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Sprague | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
2,962Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Sprague 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague 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% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Sprague 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 |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Killingly 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | #141 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 | Sprague School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | 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.