Compare towns
Wrentham vs Ayer vs Franklin Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wrentham has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Franklin Town has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Wrentham | Ayer | Franklin Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297 |
8,645Lowest |
33,154Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Franklin Town and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Franklin Town and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$145,773±$9k 40% above MA |
| Wrentham and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$611,700±$17k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,899±$156Highest 8% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Highest 23% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,044 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
48%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Franklin Town and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Franklin Town and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #64 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Ayer Shirley School District | Franklin · Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Franklin High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
11.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA 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.