Compare towns
Barre 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
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k 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 | Barre | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
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 | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above 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 | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% 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 | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.