Compare towns
Franklin vs Middlesex vs Salisbury
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 renters (35.8% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Middlesex | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
1,943 |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Franklin 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Middlesex 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
— | — |
| 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.