What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most homeowners (82.1%).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Franklin
People
Population	7,392Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
	Belmont and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Belmont and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Belmont and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1% NH: 40.6%	19.1% NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Franklin and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$71,648±$4kHighest 28% below NH
	Franklin and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kHighest 21% below NH	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,110±$68Highest 26% below NH
	Franklin and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Highest 16% below NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Belmont and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Belmont and Franklin 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	#92 of 120 in NH	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.