What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the highest household income ($105k).

Hardwick has the most people working from home (8.7%).

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	Franklin	Hardwick
People
Population	2,004Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S.	45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Franklin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,000±$10kHighest 30% above U.S.	$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Franklin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S.
	Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S.	$1,108±$119Highest 22% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S.	$4,400Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick 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	—	#163 of 282 in MA
School district	Franklin School District	Quabbin
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.