Compare towns
Sterling vs Suffield vs Willimantic 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).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Suffield | Willimantic | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Foster and Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Foster 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. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$4,678 50% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Willimantic 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Foster 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Suffield School District | — | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.