Compare towns
Franklin vs Sterling vs Windsor Locks
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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
12,579Highest |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— | $1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
| Windsor Locks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 41% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sterling School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.