Compare towns
Canton vs Dover vs Dedham
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%).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Dover | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
33,364Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest 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% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dedham 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dover School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dover Senior High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.