Compare towns
Ashland vs Canton vs Dedham vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ashland | Canton | Dedham | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Canton 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±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashland | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Canton High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.