Compare towns
Baltic vs Franklin vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Baltic | Franklin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
2,004 |
3,629Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Franklin and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— |
| Baltic and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sterling and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Franklin 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 |
| School district | — | Franklin School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.