What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).

Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canton	Franklin
People
Population	1,191Lowest	1,628Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME	46±9.3Highest about the ME average
	Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4%	25.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Canton 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME	$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME
	Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME	$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME
	Franklin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME	$888±$306Highest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,277Highest 25% below ME	$2,231Lowest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4%	36.7%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	76.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9%	12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.