Compare towns
Coventry vs Townsend 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
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Townsend | Johnston | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
9,100 |
29,835 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
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. |
1976 4 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry | North Middlesex | Johnston | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | North Middlesex Regional | Johnston Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
13.1Highest |
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.