Compare towns
Sterling vs Smithfield vs Franklin vs Chaplin
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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
22,233Highest |
2,004Lowest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% 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% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin 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 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% 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±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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. |
$4,524 45% 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% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest 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% |
82.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr 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. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.