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).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canton	Dedham
People
Population	24,748Lowest	25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	44.6±1.6Highest 12% 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%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2Highest 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%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA
	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 26% above MA	$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%
	Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	5.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Canton and Dedham 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
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Dedham
High school in town	Canton High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.