Compare towns
Franklin vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Salisbury | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
1,609Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Springfield 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. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 57% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Merrimack Valley 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 Our Story | 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.