What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

Newcastle has the most people working from home (20.2%).

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	Newcastle
People
Population	1,628Lowest	1,913Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	49.4±7Highest 10% above ME
	Newcastle 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%	17.8%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Newcastle 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%	24.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Franklin and Newcastle 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%	45.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,455±$16kLowest 12% below ME	$89,868±$33kHighest 20% above ME
	Newcastle 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	$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Lowest 22% below ME	$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 27% below ME	$4,256Highest 40% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Newcastle 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%	3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	80.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984 7 yrs newer than ME	1984 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	17 minLowest 30% below ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Newcastle and Franklin 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.