Compare towns
Sterling vs Sturbridge 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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Coventry has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Sturbridge | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
9,960 |
35,907Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Coventry 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Coventry and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,206±$155Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Sturbridge 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #24 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Coventry |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Coventry High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.