Compare towns
Wrentham vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Franklin Town has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Hardwick | Franklin Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,297 |
2,684Lowest |
33,154Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Wrentham and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Franklin Town and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.1% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Franklin Town and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$611,700±$17k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,184±$628 33% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,899±$156Highest 8% above MA |
| Franklin Town and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,373Highest 23% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,044 18% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #64 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Wrentham | Quabbin | Franklin · Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | King Philip Regional High | None in town | Franklin High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.