Compare towns
Sterling vs Smithfield vs Pomfret
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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Smithfield | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
22,233Highest |
4,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Smithfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Pomfret 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Pomfret 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±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Pomfret and Smithfield 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Smithfield 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Pomfret 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Smithfield | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.