Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Mendon vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Mendon | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
6,325Lowest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Dedham 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 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Canton 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Upton 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Mendon-Upton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
| 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.