What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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	Franklin Town	Dedham
People
Population	33,154Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA
	Dedham and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Franklin Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Franklin Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,773±$9kHighest 40% above MA	$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA
	Franklin Town and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$17kLowest 9% above MA	$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,899±$156Lowest 8% above MA	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,044Lowest 18% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Franklin Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Franklin Town 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	#64 of 282 in MA	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Franklin · Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical	Dedham
High school in town	Franklin High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

MA 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.