Compare towns
Sterling vs Vernon vs Willimantic
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 homeowners (81.1%).
Vernon has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Vernon | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
30,577Highest |
18,096 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
39.4±2.5Highest 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±1.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$85,356±$6k 11% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
| Sterling and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Sterling and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$77Highest 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,804Highest 13% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13.4% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.2% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.4%±2.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Rockville High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.