Compare towns
Sterling vs Union 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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Willimantic | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
944Lowest |
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 |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
31.3±2.7Lowest 20% below U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 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. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$45,962±$7kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,063±$68Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Willimantic 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. |
$4,793 54% 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% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Foster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs 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. |
32 min 20% above 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% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | — | — | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Union School District | — | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.