What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most people working from home (36.6%).

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	Westfield
People
Population	1,628Highest	389Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-17.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest about the ME average	47.5±5Highest 6% above ME
	Westfield 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%	8.7%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Franklin and Westfield 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%	27.2%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Westfield 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%	18.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Westfield 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	$52,917±$17kLowest 29% below ME
	Franklin and Westfield 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	$134,400±$61kLowest 55% below ME
	Franklin and Westfield 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	$950±$175Highest 17% below ME
	Westfield 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	$1,550Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Franklin and Westfield 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%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	36.6%±31.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Westfield 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

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.