Compare towns
Sterling vs North Smithfield 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).
North Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($457k 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 | North Smithfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
12,708Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Smithfield 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% |
33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$108,866±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$457,200±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,282±$531Highest 9% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| North Smithfield 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. |
$5,219Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Smithfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Smithfield 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 | #13 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | North Smithfield | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Smitfield HS | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.