Compare towns
Canton vs Danvers vs Hampton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Canton | Danvers | Hampton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
28,098Highest |
16,426Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Hampton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Winnacunnet High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
| 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.