Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Dedham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
11,673Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest 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+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
| Norfolk and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,019±$598Lowest 15% 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 | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 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 |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Canton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.