Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Middleton vs Needham
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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Middleton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
9,816Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Middleton 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Middleton | Needham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.