Compare towns

Coventry vs Windham vs Sterling vs Foster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

MeasureCoventryWindhamSterlingFoster
People
Population
35,907Highest
23,961
3,629Lowest
4,523
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±1.1
13% above U.S.
33.7±1.9Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
47.1±3Highest
21% above U.S.
Foster and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Windham 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%
14.3%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Coventry and Foster 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%
22.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
15.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,946±$8k
28% above U.S.
$55,736±$5kLowest
31% below U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$113,646±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
Foster 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.
$209,800±$9kLowest
37% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
$425,300±$30kHighest
28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,206±$155
15% below U.S.
$1,107±$69Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
$1,509±$556Highest
7% above U.S.
Foster and Coventry 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.
$4,633
49% above U.S.
$4,551Lowest
46% above U.S.
$7,135Highest
129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±11.1
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
65.8%±25.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Foster and Windham 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%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
47.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
11.3%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Foster 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 #143 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT #22 of 38 in RI
School district Coventry Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Foster
High school in town Coventry High School Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
9.8Lowest
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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.