What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	8,799Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH
	Lancaster 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 NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster 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%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,648±$4kHighest 28% below NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kHighest 35% below NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$68Highest 26% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,886Highest 27% below NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 20 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster 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	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Franklin School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	Franklin High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2	—
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.