Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Orange 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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Killingly | Orange | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
14,315 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Orange and Franklin 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%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Orange 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Killingly 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% |
59.4%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% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above 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% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.