Compare towns
Willington vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Tolland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Tolland has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Willington | Killingly | Sterling | Tolland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
17,867Highest |
3,629Lowest |
14,606 |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
41.4±2.5Highest about the CT average |
| Tolland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
15.3%±2.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Willington and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.4%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Tolland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$133,264±$16kHighest 39% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$365,500±$21kHighest about the CT average |
| Tolland and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116 9% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,680±$119Highest 13% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$7,403Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
73.5%±62.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Tolland and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.6%±3.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Tolland 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #60 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Tolland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Tolland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.