Compare towns
Sterling vs Winsted vs Voluntown
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).
Winsted has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Winsted | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
6,977Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
47.6±7.3 16% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Winsted 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% |
14.4%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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% |
25%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Winsted and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$64,871±$12kLowest 32% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$218,900±$14kLowest 40% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,183±$130Highest 20% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Winsted and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,754Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±16.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Winsted and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
15.9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
54.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1942Lowest 25 yrs older than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.7%±3.5Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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 | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.