Compare towns
Brookline vs Canton vs Dedham vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Somerville has the most renters (65.8% rent).
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 | Brookline | Canton | Dedham | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 63,266 |
24,748Lowest |
25,237 |
81,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
| Canton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,517±$64 43% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,186Lowest 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest 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 | 8.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
9.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerville and Brookline 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 | #22 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Somerville |
| High school in town | Brookline High | Canton High | Dedham High | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.