Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Raynham vs Wakefield
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).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Raynham has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Canton | Dedham | Raynham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
15,505Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.5 7% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Raynham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Raynham 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% MA: 47.3% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$124,012±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$524,400±$29kLowest 7% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$1,749±$74Lowest about the MA average |
$1,958±$102 11% 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Bridgewater-Raynham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.