Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Hampton vs Norwood
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% 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 | Hampton | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
1,647Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Norwood 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Norwood 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. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% 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. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.