Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Wolfeboro
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Canton 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% 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. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.