Community Profile LOCATION: The Town of Franklin is located 35 miles southwest of Boston and less than 20 miles north of Providence Rhode Island in Southeastern Massachusetts. Franklin is the at the center of the Tri-Center Cohesive Commercial Statistical Area(CCSA), which includes nine communities within commuting distance of Boston, Worcester, and Providence Rhode Island. Of these nine communities, Franklin is bordered by Norfolk (East), Medway (North), Wrentham (South), and Bellingham (West). Franklin is a part of the Boston MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) POPULATION: Franklin's population in 2009 is 32,878 residents. Franklin is the largest community of the nine (9)towns in the Tri-Center Region. Future population is expected to be roughly 40,347. LABOR FACTS: Franklin has a civilian labor force of 16,784 and an unemployment rate of 7.2% as of October 2009. The Tri-Center Region has approximately 48,300 employees of which 33% are employed in the Town of Franklin. LOCAL ECONOMY: Manufacturing and Retail Trade are the leading industries in Franklin and the Tri-Center Region. Predominately a manufacturing town, Franklin is host to such nationally and regionally known firms as EMC, Putnam Investments, Garelick Farms and Draka USA. TRANSPORTATION: The Town of Franklin enjoys good transportation networks with Route 140, convenient access to highway I-495 and major routes such as the Massachusetts Turnpike(I-90), Route 1 and I-95. In addition to this well integrated roadway system, Franklin is host to two MBTA commuter rail stations.