Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Killingly vs Sterling

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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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.

MeasureSturbridgeKillinglySterling
People
Population
9,960
17,867Highest
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sturbridge and Killingly 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%
18%Lowest
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%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
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±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
—
Sturbridge and Killingly 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.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Killingly and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
35 min
34% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Killingly High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
11.1Highest
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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.