Compare towns
Canton vs Freeport vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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%).
Freeport has the most affordable homes ($508k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Freeport | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
8,802Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | RSU 05 | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | Freeport High School | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.