Compare towns
Barnstead vs Canton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Barnstead | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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 | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above 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 | $6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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 | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.