Compare towns
Dedham vs Franklin vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Dedham | Franklin | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,799Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% 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% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #112 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Franklin School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Franklin High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
16.2Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.