What stands out worked out from the figures below

Damascus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

Franklin has the most people working from home (12.3%).

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	Damascus	Franklin
People
Population	3,698Lowest	3,843Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest PA: +2.4%	-4.2%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	52.3±1.7Highest 28% above PA	51.9±9.1Lowest 27% above PA
	Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.6Lowest PA: 20.4%	16.9%±7Highest PA: 20.4%
	Franklin and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±6.7Highest PA: 19.5%	18.9%±3.9Lowest PA: 19.5%
	Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest PA: 35.2%	30.5%Highest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±3Highest PA: 6.1%	3.5%±2Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,357±$19kLowest 3% below PA	$82,917±$15kHighest 6% above PA
	Franklin and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$282,200±$28kHighest 11% above PA	$226,500±$42kLowest 11% below PA
	Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$705±$576Lowest 42% below PA	$948±$68Highest 22% below PA
	Franklin and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,504Highest 6% above PA	$2,815Lowest 15% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±39Highest PA: 48.2%	18.8%±18Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Damascus and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest PA: 11.7%	3.1%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest PA: 69.3%	86.8%Lowest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 15 yrs newer than PA	1972Lowest 7 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 49% above PA	27 minLowest about the PA average
Work from home	7.8%±6Lowest PA: 15.6%	12.3%±5.9Highest PA: 15.6%
	Franklin and Damascus 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	#51 of 764 in PA	—
School district	Wayne Highlands SD	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.