What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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	Dedham	Franklin
People
Population	25,237Highest	8,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S.	42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.	$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.	$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.	$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.	$4,886Lowest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#119 of 282 in MA	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Dedham	Franklin School District
High school in town	Dedham High	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.