Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Franklin | Mapleton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Franklin 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.