Compare towns

Coventry vs Johnston 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

Coventry has the most homeowners (82%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureCoventryJohnstonSterling
People
Population
35,907Highest
29,835
3,629Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±1.1
13% above U.S.
44.5±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
39.4±5.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8kHighest
28% above U.S.
$91,866±$6kLowest
14% above U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Coventry and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,200±$11kHighest
7% above U.S.
$355,500±$13k
7% above U.S.
$283,400±$17kLowest
15% below U.S.
Coventry and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,206±$155Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,275±$132Highest
10% below U.S.
—
Johnston and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,099Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,614
48% above U.S.
$4,551Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Coventry and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sterling and Coventry 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 #24 of 38 in RI #32 of 38 in RI #119 of 149 in CT
School district Coventry Johnston Sterling School District
High school in town Coventry High School Johnston Senior High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
10.3Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.