Compare towns
Canton vs Hooksett vs Ashland 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 the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Hooksett | Ashland | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
15,057Lowest |
18,873 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashland 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Ashland 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #42 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hooksett School District | Ashland | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Ashland High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 14.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.