Compare towns
Coventry vs Sterling vs Union vs Johnston
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Sterling | Union | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
3,629 |
944Lowest |
29,835 |
| 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. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Union and Johnston 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Johnston 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% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest 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. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% 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. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$355,500±$13k 7% above 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,614 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Coventry | Sterling School District | Union School District | Johnston |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.