Compare towns

Franklin vs Bantam 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).
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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.

MeasureFranklinBantamSterling
People
Population
2,004
810Lowest
3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
47.2±15.7Highest
15% above CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
Bantam and Franklin 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%
18.8%±6.5Lowest
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%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
25.4%±8.5Highest
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Bantam and Franklin 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%
26.2%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.4Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.1%±2.3Lowest
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
—
$102,695±$12kLowest
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
$317,700±$40k
13% below CT
$283,400±$17kLowest
23% below CT
Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$767±$529Highest
48% below CT
$688±$106Lowest
54% below CT
—
Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
$3,984
40% below CT
$4,551Highest
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.3%±12.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
Bantam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%
CT: 10%
14.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
49.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the CT average
27 minLowest
about the CT average
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
16%±7.9Highest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
Bantam and Sterling 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.