Compare towns
Sterling vs Bantam vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Bantam | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Highest |
810Lowest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
47.2±15.7Highest 15% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Bantam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest 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+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
— | $105,000±$10kHighest 10% 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 | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$767±$529Highest 48% below CT |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bantam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bantam 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 | — | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Franklin 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.