Compare towns
Canton vs Epping vs Dedham vs Norwood
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%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Epping | Dedham | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
7,430Lowest |
25,237 |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Canton and Norwood 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 22% 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% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Epping School District | — | Norwood |
| High school in town | Canton High | Epping High School | — | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.5 |
| 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.