Compare towns
Sterling vs Smithfield vs Windsor Locks vs Coventry
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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Coventry has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Windsor Locks | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
22,233 |
12,579 |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
44±1.1Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Coventry 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% 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% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,206±$155 15% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Coventry |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
8.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.