What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Wheelock
People
Population	1,628Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46±9.3Lowest 18% above U.S.	51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Wheelock 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 U.S.: 22%	18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wheelock 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 U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wheelock 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%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Franklin and Wheelock 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 19% below U.S.	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Franklin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,800±$59kHighest 26% below U.S.	$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S.
	Franklin and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$888±$306 37% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,231Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,937Highest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Franklin and Wheelock 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%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock 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.