Compare towns
Swanton vs Dedham vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Franklin has the most homeowners (74.7%).
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 | Swanton | Dedham | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
25,237Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 40% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 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 | 20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Franklin 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 | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.