Compare towns
Sterling vs Sutton vs Hampton 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Foster has the most homeowners (91.4%).
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 | Sutton | Hampton | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
9,452Highest |
1,647Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hampton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Foster and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Hampton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Hampton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Sutton | Hampton School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.