Compare towns
Franklin vs Canton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Franklin | Canton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
24,748Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
| Canton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Salisbury 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
13.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.