Compare towns
Sterling vs Union 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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Union | Killingly | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
944Lowest |
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 |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Foster 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% |
5.7% 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% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 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% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.