Compare towns
Canton vs Chilmark vs Dedham vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k 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 | Canton | Chilmark | Dedham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,578Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 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 | $143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
| Chilmark and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,452±$298 39% above MA |
| Chilmark and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Up-Island Regional | Dedham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Dedham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.