Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,337 |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$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±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Thompson 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 | #130 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 | Thompson School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.