Compare towns
Sterling vs Willington
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).
Willington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Willington |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
5,575Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
| Sterling and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willington 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% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
33.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$91,114±$12kLowest 5% below CT |
| Sterling and Willington 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 |
$305,800±$48kHighest 17% below CT |
| Willington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,419Highest 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Willington 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 | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.

