Compare towns
Bow vs Canton vs Dedham vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
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 | Bow | Canton | Dedham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 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+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 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 | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%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. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Canton High | Dedham High | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.