Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Norton
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).
Norton has the most affordable homes ($501k 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 | Norton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
19,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$124,535±$11kLowest 20% 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 |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,911±$375Lowest 8% above MA |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%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 |
33 min 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest 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 | #173 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Norton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | Norton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.