Compare towns
Canton vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,710Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 78% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Canton and Lyme 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. |
$645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% 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 | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Canton 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Lyme School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.