Compare towns
Sterling vs Exeter vs Coventry vs Plainfield
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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Coventry has the oldest population (median age 44).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% 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 | Exeter | Coventry | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
7,195 |
35,907Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Exeter 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% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Coventry and Exeter 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #24 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Coventry | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.