What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Franklin	Jackson
People
Population	1,628Highest	567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Highest about the ME average	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME
	Franklin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Franklin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Jackson 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 12% below ME	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average
	Jackson 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 17% below ME	$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME
	Franklin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Highest 22% below ME	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME
	Franklin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 27% below ME	$2,651Highest 13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Jackson 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%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	35 minHighest 41% above ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.