Compare towns
Westminster vs Killingly vs Merrimac 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
Westminster has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Sterling has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Westminster | Killingly | Merrimac | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,374 |
17,867Highest |
6,748Lowest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±4.6 24% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 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 | $106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$498,800±$48k 50% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,699±$161 20% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$6,757 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #188 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Pentucket | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.