Compare towns
Franklin vs Sterling vs Sutton vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% 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 | Sutton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
9,452Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sterling School District | Sutton | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.