Compare towns
Franklin vs South Windham 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 expensive homes ($326k median).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
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 | Franklin | South Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004 |
1,281Lowest |
3,629Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.7% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
39.4±16.3Lowest 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Franklin and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham and Franklin 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% |
16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Franklin and South Windham 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±5.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| South Windham and Franklin 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 |
$75,045±$16kLowest 22% 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 |
$214,100±$50kLowest 42% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,341±$133Highest 10% below CT |
— |
| South Windham and Franklin 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 |
$4,491 32% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
30.9%±34.2 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sterling and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
19.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
80%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and South Windham 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.