Compare towns
Foster vs Sterling vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 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 | Foster | Sterling | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,523 |
3,629Lowest |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Suffield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
— | $1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Foster 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 | #22 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Foster | Sterling School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.