What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Franklin	Springfield
People
Population	8,799Lowest	9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2Lowest 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%	18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Franklin 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%	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%	23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Franklin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S.	$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S.	$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S.
	Franklin and Springfield 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.	$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±11.5Lowest 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%	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±4.1Lowest 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	#64 of 70 in VT
School district	Franklin School District	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town	Franklin High School	Springfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.2Highest	14.3Lowest
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.