What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the highest household income ($65k).

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k 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	Wade
People
Population	1,628Highest	244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME
	Wade 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%	16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wade and Franklin 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%	34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Wade 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 ME: 36.2%	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Wade 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	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME
	Franklin and Wade 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	$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME
	Franklin and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306 22% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Highest 27% below ME	$1,655Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Wade 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%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	34 minHighest 37% above ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Franklin and Wade 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.