Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Killingly vs Brookfield vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Sturbridge | Killingly | Brookfield | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
17,867Highest |
3,460Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$4,617 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brookfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Killingly High School | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.7 |
| 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.