What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Manchester has the highest household income ($92k).

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	Manchester
People
Population	1,628Lowest	2,424Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME
	Manchester 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 ME: 18.1%	19%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Manchester 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%	22.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Franklin and Manchester 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%	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Manchester 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	$92,031±$16kHighest 23% above ME
	Manchester 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±$59kLowest 17% below ME	$299,600±$40kHighest about the ME average
	Manchester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME	$993±$116Highest 13% below ME
	Manchester and Franklin 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	$3,486Highest 15% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	30.9%±18.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Manchester 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%	4.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	20 minLowest 19% below ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 38
High school in town	—	None in town
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.