Compare towns
Franklin vs Gray vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Gray | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
8,429 |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Gray and Franklin 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pittsfield and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Gray 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Gray and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Gray and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 57% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,694Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray and Pittsfield 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.