Compare towns
Sterling vs Orange 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
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Orange | Windsor Locks | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
14,315Highest |
12,579 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
59.4%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% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,934 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1964 3 yrs older 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 |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Windsor Locks and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.