Compare towns

Franklin vs Baltic vs Sterling

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
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.

MeasureFranklinBalticSterling
People
Population
2,004
1,157Lowest
3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
40.3±4.3Highest
about the CT average
37.8±15.8Lowest
8% below CT
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
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.5%±10.8Lowest
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+
17.4%±1.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
15.6%±5.2
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+
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
16.1%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
18%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
0.5%±1.4Lowest
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
$105,000±$10kHighest
10% above CT
$68,958±$47kLowest
28% below 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
$326,200±$20kHighest
11% below CT
$196,200±$27kLowest
47% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,247±$141Highest
16% 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
$3,934
41% below CT
$3,799Lowest
43% below CT
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
29.3%±13.7
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
8.7%
CT: 10%
11.6%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
37.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the CT average
28 min
6% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
6.8%±2.4
CT: 16%
5.2%±4.6Lowest
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.