Compare towns
Franklin vs Hardwick vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Hardwick | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
2,684Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Hardwick 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Voluntown 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±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Hardwick 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±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Voluntown and Hardwick 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,955Highest 59% 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% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Voluntown and Hardwick 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Quabbin | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.