Compare towns
Thomaston vs Sterling vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
3,629Lowest |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
| Thomaston and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Highest 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.