Compare towns
Sterling vs Exeter 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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
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 | Exeter | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
7,195Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% 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%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Franklin 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. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.