Compare towns
Sterling vs Willimantic vs Franklin vs Lisbon
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 most people working from home (11.6%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Willimantic | Franklin | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
18,096Highest |
2,004Lowest |
4,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
| Lisbon 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4 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%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon 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 CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| 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 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
$315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
| Franklin and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$68Highest 29% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— |
| Willimantic and Franklin 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 |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,044 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
| Sterling and Lisbon 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 | — | — | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Franklin School District | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.