What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Franklin Town has the most renters (21.8% rent).

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	Chelmsford	Franklin Town
People
Population	36,446Highest	33,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA
	Chelmsford and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	21.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Chelmsford and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Franklin Town and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kLowest 35% above MA	$145,773±$9kHighest 40% above MA
	Franklin Town and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA	$611,700±$17kHighest 9% above MA
	Franklin Town and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA	$1,899±$156Lowest 8% above MA
	Chelmsford and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,047Highest 34% above MA	$7,044Lowest 18% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	48%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelmsford and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	78.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelmsford and Franklin Town 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	#79 of 282 in MA	#64 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelmsford	Franklin · Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Franklin High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.