What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Danforth	Franklin
People
Population	666Lowest	1,628Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average
	Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%	25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME	$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME	$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME	$888±$306Highest 22% below ME
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME	$2,231Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.