Compare towns
Franklin vs Sterling vs Suffield vs Norwich
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).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Suffield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
15,702 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Suffield 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% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 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% |
18.4%±2.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Suffield 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Suffield 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±$12k 7% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Suffield 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— | $1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Suffield and Norwich 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sterling School District | Suffield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.