Compare towns
Sterling vs Coventry vs Putnam
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).
Coventry has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Coventry | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
35,907Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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% |
19.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Coventry and Putnam 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. |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Coventry 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±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,206±$155Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Putnam 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. |
$5,099Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Putnam 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Coventry | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.