Compare towns
Franklin vs Willimantic vs Sterling
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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Willimantic | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
18,096Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% 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% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 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%±1.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
— |
| Willimantic 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 |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Highest 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 |
| School district | Franklin School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school 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.