Compare towns
Ashfield vs Canton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Ashfield | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Ashfield 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.