Compare towns
Sterling vs Colebrook vs Plainfield vs Coventry
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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Coventry has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Colebrook | Plainfield | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,494Lowest |
15,141 |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Coventry 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. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Coventry 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Colebrook 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Coventry 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Colebrook School District | Plainfield School District | Coventry |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.