Compare towns
Sterling vs Mansfield vs Windsor Locks vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Mansfield | Windsor Locks | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
25,358Highest |
12,579 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% 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 | — | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Mansfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 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 |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.