Compare towns
Franklin vs Sterling vs Ashford
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Sterling | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
4,226Highest |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% 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% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Ashford 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±$10k 10% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sterling School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.