What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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	Charlestown	Franklin
People
Population	4,889Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH	42.7±2Highest about the NH average
	Franklin and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH	$71,648±$4kHighest 28% below NH
	Franklin and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH	$262,200±$22kHighest 35% below NH
	Franklin and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH	$1,110±$68Highest 26% below NH
	Franklin and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 23% below NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Franklin and Charlestown 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	#113 of 120 in NH	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	None in town	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	16.2
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.