What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Otis	Sterling
People
Population	1,624Lowest	3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S.	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sterling and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S.	$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S.
	Otis and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S.	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,318±$924 7% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S.	$4,551Highest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Otis and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Otis 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	—	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Farmington River Reg	Sterling School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.