Compare towns
Coventry vs Middlefield 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 highest household income ($103k).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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.
| Measure | Coventry | Middlefield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
4,243 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield 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. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% 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±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Coventry 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. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Coventry 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry | Regional School District 13 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.

