Compare towns
Franklin vs Sterling vs Windham vs Sprague
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).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Windham | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
23,961Highest |
2,962 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below 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 |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
| Sprague and Windham 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,668Highest 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Sterling 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% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Franklin 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.