Compare towns
Sterling vs Plainfield vs Franklin vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Franklin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
15,141Highest |
2,004Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest 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%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Ashford 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford and Plainfield 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 |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.