Compare towns
Oxford vs Sterling vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 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 | Oxford | Sterling | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,991Highest |
3,629Lowest |
12,326 |
| Median age | 45.2±5.7 10% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.4±3.8Highest 10% above CT |
| Coventry and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Oxford and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Coventry and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,953±$23kHighest 35% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$108,213±$5k 13% above CT |
| Oxford and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,400±$20kHighest 29% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$330,000±$23k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$87Highest 5% below CT |
— | $1,232±$330Lowest 17% below CT |
| Oxford and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,442Highest 3% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,284 20% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.3%±15.8Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 19 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.7 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Coventry and Oxford 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 | #78 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #41 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Oxford School District | Sterling School District | Coventry School District |
| High school in town | Oxford High School | None in town | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.