Compare towns

Sterling vs Union vs Windham 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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Coventry has the most expensive homes ($356k median).

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.

MeasureSterlingUnionWindhamCoventry
People
Population
3,629
944Lowest
23,961
35,907Highest
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.
33.7±1.9Lowest
13% below U.S.
44±1.1
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Windham 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%
14.3%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%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%
15.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$88,958±$14k
10% above U.S.
$55,736±$5kLowest
31% below U.S.
$102,946±$8kHighest
28% above 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
$209,800±$9kLowest
37% below U.S.
$356,200±$11kHighest
7% above 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 — —
$1,107±$69Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,206±$155Highest
15% below U.S.
Coventry and Windham 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.
$4,633
49% above U.S.
$5,099Highest
63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
90%±64.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±11.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Union and Windham 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%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±2.2
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 — #143 of 149 in CT #24 of 38 in RI
School district Sterling School District Union School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Coventry
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8Lowest
12.3Highest
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.