Compare towns
Sterling vs Hampton vs Windham vs Foster
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Hampton | Windham | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
23,961Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Foster 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Windham 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.