Compare towns

Canton vs Dedham vs Killingly vs Putnam

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 population (median age 44.6).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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.

MeasureCantonDedhamKillinglyPutnam
People
Population
24,748
25,237Highest
17,867
9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.7±3
12% above U.S.
Dedham and Putnam 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Canton and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Killingly 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Killingly 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.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$70,561±$7kLowest
13% below 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.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$269,200±$11kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,149±$44
19% below U.S.
Canton and Dedham 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.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$3,860Lowest
24% 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%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±2.8Lowest
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 #136 of 149 in CT #128 of 149 in CT
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Dedham Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Putnam School District
High school in town Canton High Dedham High Killingly High School Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
10.4
11.1
9.5Lowest
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.