Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Vernon vs Voluntown
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).
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Vernon | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867 |
30,577Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Vernon 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% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Vernon 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±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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 |
$275,500±$11kLowest 25% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Vernon and Voluntown 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 |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Voluntown 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% CT: 10% |
13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Vernon 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Vernon School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Rockville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.