Compare towns
Canton vs Ipswich vs Maynard 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%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Ipswich | Maynard | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
13,930 |
10,712Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Ipswich 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Canton 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 38% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Canton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Ipswich 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 31% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Maynard 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Ipswich | Maynard | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Ipswich High | Maynard High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
10.4 |
| 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.