Compare towns
Franklin vs Unity vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Unity | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
1,375Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 about the NH average |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
| Northfield and Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH |
| Northfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$5,097 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Unity 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 |
| School district | Franklin School District | Unity School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.