What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Randolph has the most expensive homes ($407k 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	420Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46±9.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	57.5±10.9Highest 48% above U.S.
	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 U.S.: 22%	14.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	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 U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Randolph and Franklin 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.	$101,750±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$59kLowest 26% below U.S.	$407,000±$57kHighest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S.	$4,269Highest 37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50%±53.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph 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%	6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Randolph 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

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.