What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Royalton has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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	Royalton
People
Population	8,799Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Royalton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Franklin and Royalton 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%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton 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.	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S.	$263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Royalton 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.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Franklin and Royalton 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.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Franklin and Royalton 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%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Franklin School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Franklin High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.