Compare towns
Warren vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Warren | Killingly | Sterling | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,011 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Warren and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 45% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Killingly High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.