Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Union vs Ashland
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 the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Union has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Ashland has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | Union | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
944Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Union 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% 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% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Ashland 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 | — | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Union School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.