Compare towns
Canton vs Hingham vs Needham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hingham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Hingham | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
24,283Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Hingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Needham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Hingham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Needham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hingham | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Hingham High | Needham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.