Compare towns
Franklin vs Durham vs Voluntown
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).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Franklin | Durham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
7,208Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Durham 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% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Voluntown 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% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Franklin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,154±$448 22% below CT |
$1,166±$191Highest 22% below CT |
| Voluntown and Durham 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 |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Durham and Voluntown 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Regional School District 13 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.