Compare towns
Franklin vs Middlesex vs Brooks
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Middlesex | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628 |
1,943Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Brooks 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%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brooks 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Brooks 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,096Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.