Compare towns
Coventry vs Hampton vs Sterling vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Coventry | Hampton | Sterling | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,326Highest |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
5,300 |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Hampton and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284Highest 20% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.