Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Killingly vs Putnam vs Westminster

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% 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.

MeasureSturbridgeKillinglyPutnamWestminster
People
Population
9,960
17,867Highest
9,292
8,374Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+12.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
48.3±4.6Highest
24% above U.S.
Westminster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster 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%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly and Sturbridge 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.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
$106,331±$22k
32% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
$422,000±$36k
27% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Westminster 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±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
$1,843±$268Highest
30% above U.S.
Westminster 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% above U.S.
$4,973
59% 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%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Westminster 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge and Westminster 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 #128 of 149 in CT #112 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District Ashburnham-Westminster
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Killingly High School Putnam High School Oakmont Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
11.1
9.5
13.6Highest
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.