Compare towns
Washington vs Killingly vs Sterling vs New Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
New Milford has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Washington | Killingly | Sterling | New Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,676 |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
28,334Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
42.1±1.9 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and New Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.7%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$106,411±$8kHighest 11% above CT |
| New Milford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,609±$152Highest 8% above CT |
| New Milford and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$6,150Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| New Milford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
7.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.1%±2.5 CT: 16% |
| Washington and New Milford 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #110 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | New Milford School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Killingly High School | None in town | New Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.