Compare towns
Sterling vs Thompson vs Killingly 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Thompson | Killingly | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
9,337 |
17,867Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Foster 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster 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 15% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Killingly 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Thompson School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.