Compare towns
Sterling vs Union vs Coventry vs Plainfield
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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Coventry has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Union | Coventry | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
944Lowest |
35,907Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$102,946±$8kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$356,200±$11kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,206±$155Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Coventry and Plainfield 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. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$5,099Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Coventry 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sterling and Coventry 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 | — | #24 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Union School District | Coventry | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coventry High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.