What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most expensive homes ($211k median).

Massena has the most affordable homes ($94k 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	Massena
People
Population	2,359Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.2±4.1Highest 31% above NY	42.6±4.7Lowest 7% above NY
Kids under 18	13.6%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.4%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Massena and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±5.8Highest NY: 17.9%	20.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Massena and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,323±$6kHighest 25% below NY	$51,458±$7kLowest 40% below NY
	Franklin and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,600±$23kHighest 50% below NY	$94,400±$15kLowest 78% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$803±$129Highest 50% below NY	$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY
	Franklin and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,332Highest 49% below NY	$3,218Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.9%±21.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Massena and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Lowest NY: 14%	24.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	10.7%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Franklin and Massena 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

NY 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.