What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	8,799Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Franklin and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$68 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,886Highest 27% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franklin and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 18% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#112 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Franklin School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Franklin High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.