Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Mansfield 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).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Killingly | Mansfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867 |
25,358Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
| Franklin and Killingly 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Mansfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.