Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Needham vs Sutton
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Needham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Sutton 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Needham | Sutton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | Needham High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.6 |
| 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.