Compare towns
Baltimore vs Canton vs Dedham vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Baltimore | Canton | Dedham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Baltimore and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16k 33% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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 | $219,400±$27kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 39% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.