Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Windham vs Ashland
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 the most people working from home (25.7%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Dedham | Windham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
16,038Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11kLowest 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Windham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298 74% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Ashland 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Windham School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Windham High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 12.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.