Compare towns

Sterling vs Willimantic 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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.

MeasureSterlingWillimanticCoventry
People
Population
3,629Lowest
18,096
35,907Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
31.3±2.7Lowest
20% below U.S.
44±1.1Highest
13% above U.S.
Coventry and Sterling 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%
20.6%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.8Lowest
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%
11%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
$45,962±$7kLowest
43% 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.
$190,900±$17kLowest
43% below U.S.
$356,200±$11kHighest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,063±$68Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,206±$155Highest
15% below U.S.
Coventry 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.
$4,678
50% above U.S.
$5,099Highest
63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±11.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Willimantic 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%
23.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1953Lowest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±2Lowest
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 — #24 of 38 in RI
School district Sterling School District — Coventry
High school in town None in town — Coventry High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.3
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.