Compare towns
Sterling vs Central Falls vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Central Falls has the most renters (74.4% 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 | Central Falls | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
22,701Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
40.3±4.3Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Central Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 18% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Central Falls and Franklin 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 27% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$352,100±$30kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Central Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$75Highest 15% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Central Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$3,934 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Falls Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.