Compare towns
Sterling vs 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).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k 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 | Smithfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
22,233Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| 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±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Highest 28% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Smithfield | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.