Compare towns
Coventry vs Methuen 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Methuen | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,907 |
53,475Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Methuen 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Highest 63% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Methuen 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% |
72.3%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 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Methuen 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #236 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry | Methuen | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.