Compare towns
Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Killingly vs Merrimac
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 homeowners (86.3%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Windsor Locks | Killingly | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,183 |
12,579 |
17,867Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Merrimac 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Merrimac 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Windsor Locks School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
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.