Compare towns
Sterling vs Wakefield 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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
27,793Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Foster 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% |
59.7%Highest 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%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Foster 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. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,509±$556Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Foster 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$7,135 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Wakefield 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.