Compare towns
Sterling vs Canton vs Voluntown
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).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Canton | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
10,144Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.3±5.2 10% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Canton 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% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Voluntown 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% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Sterling and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$117,991±$20kHighest 23% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Canton 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 |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Canton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Canton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Canton School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.