What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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	Danforth
People
Population	1,628Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME
	Danforth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth 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 ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Highest 22% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Highest 27% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	28 minLowest 15% above ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Danforth 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

ME 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.