Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Newton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k 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 | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Newton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Newton 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±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
| Canton and Newton 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. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,683±$96Lowest 19% above 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 | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Sanborn Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.