Compare towns
Boylston 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
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Boylston | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Canton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Lowest 15% above 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 | $7,266 21% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Lowest 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 | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
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.