Compare towns
Sterling vs Cumberland 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).
Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Cumberland | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
36,820Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cumberland and Sterling 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% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Sterling 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% |
18.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Cumberland 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. |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Cumberland and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Cumberland 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cumberland High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.