Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Marion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k 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 | Killingly | Marion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
17,867Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marion and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 60% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$143,092±$30kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$653,500±$47kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,176±$516 17% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,766 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.8%±26.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marion and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marion 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #141 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Marion |
| High school 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 |
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.