What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

Middleton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

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	Middleton
People
Population	2,004Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+8.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S.	43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S.
	Middleton 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%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleton 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%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Franklin and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,000±$10kLowest 30% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,200±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton 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.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middleton 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	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Franklin School District	Middleton
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.