Compare towns
Sterling vs Hampton vs Putnam 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Hampton | Putnam | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,004 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Hampton and Putnam 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Franklin and Putnam 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Hampton 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Franklin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Hampton and Putnam 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Putnam School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.