Compare towns
Meredith vs Brookline vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($211k 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 | Meredith | Brookline | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467 |
531Lowest |
2,359Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.2±4.1 34% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$64,323±$6kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$210,600±$23kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$803±$129 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630 16% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,332Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.9%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.