Compare towns
Northfield vs Bellows Falls 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
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Bellows Falls | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
2,891Lowest |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.7±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Northfield 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | — | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 16.2 |
| 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.