What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

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	Bath
People
Population	1,628Highest	1,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S.
	Bath and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bath and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bath and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Franklin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S.	$67,813±$22kHighest 16% below U.S.
	Bath and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$59kHighest 26% below U.S.	$234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Franklin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average
	Bath and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S.	$4,413Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Franklin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Franklin and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Bath School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.