Compare towns
Franklin Town vs Pepperell vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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.
| Measure | Franklin Town | Pepperell | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,154Highest |
11,663Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Franklin Town and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Franklin Town and Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 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±$17k 9% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,899±$156 8% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below 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 | $7,044 18% above MA |
$6,698Lowest 12% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 12% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Franklin · Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | Dedham |
| High school in town | Franklin High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.