What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Randolph has the most affordable homes ($174k 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	Randolph
People
Population	1,628Highest	1,610Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME
	Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Franklin and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Randolph and Franklin 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%	16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Randolph 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	$66,574±$16kHighest 11% below ME
	Randolph 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±$59kHighest 17% below ME	$174,300±$21kLowest 41% below ME
	Franklin and Randolph 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	$1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME
	Randolph and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Highest 27% below ME	$2,160Lowest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.7% ME: 10.7%	15.7% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	77.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	4.3%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Randolph 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.