What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most people working from home (12.2%).

Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

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	Steep Falls
People
Population	1,628Lowest	1,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Highest about the ME average	44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average
	Franklin and Steep Falls 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%	22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Steep Falls 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%	9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Steep Falls 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	$80,280±$33kHighest 7% above ME
	Steep Falls 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	$243,400±$31kLowest 18% below ME
	Franklin and Steep Falls 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	$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME
	Steep Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 27% below ME	$3,273Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Steep Falls 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 ME: 10.7%	7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	80.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	31 minHighest 25% above ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.