Compare towns
Sterling vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Suffield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
15,702Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield and Voluntown 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Suffield and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Suffield School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.