Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Sturbridge vs Foster
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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Sturbridge | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,960 |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Foster 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% 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% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Foster 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% 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% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Foster 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.