Compare towns
Sterling vs Central Falls vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% rent).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Sterling | Central Falls | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
22,701Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Highest about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.