Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Merrimac
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).
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k 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 | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
6,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Dedham 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% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$123,054±$16kLowest 18% 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Dedham 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% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.