What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Brewer
People
Population	8,799Lowest	9,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2Highest 10% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,886Highest 57% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959 21 yrs older than U.S.	1959 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Franklin and Brewer 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	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Franklin School District	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Franklin High School	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	14.0Lowest
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.