Compare towns
Sterling vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Washington | Killingly | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
3,676 |
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±5.5Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$101,549±$16k 26% 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. |
$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Washington 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. |
$4,709 51% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Killingly 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% |
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% |
79% 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. |
1971 9 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. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Foster 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Lowest |
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.