What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somersworth has the most people working from home (11.7%).

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	Somersworth
People
Population	8,799Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±2Highest about the NH average	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
	Franklin and Somersworth 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%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	31.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth 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 28% below NH	$74,504±$13kHighest 25% below NH
	Somersworth and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH	$318,400±$23kHighest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH	$6,805Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth and Franklin 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH	1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Franklin School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Franklin High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	11.4Lowest
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.