What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k 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.

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

Measure	Franklin	Perham
People
Population	1,628Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME
	Perham 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%	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Perham 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%	24.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Franklin and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME	$62,500±$22kLowest 16% below ME
	Franklin and Perham 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	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306 22% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Highest 27% below ME	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Perham 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%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Perham 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.