Compare towns

Franklin vs Northfield vs Springfield

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

MeasureFranklinNorthfieldSpringfield
People
Population
8,799
4,971Lowest
9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±2
10% above U.S.
42.6±5.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Highest
11% above U.S.
Springfield 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%
20.3%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Northfield and Springfield 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%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield 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%
23.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield 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±$4k
11% below U.S.
$92,917±$15kHighest
15% above U.S.
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,200±$22k
21% below U.S.
$288,500±$33kHighest
13% below U.S.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
Northfield and Franklin 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.
$1,076±$182
24% below U.S.
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
Franklin and Northfield 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.
$5,097Highest
63% above U.S.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±11.5
U.S.: 51.1%
24.1%±14.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1958Lowest
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
8.3%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield 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 #109 of 120 in NH #64 of 70 in VT
School district Franklin School District Winnisquam Regional School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town Franklin High School None in town Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school
16.2Highest
—
14.3Lowest
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.