Compare towns
Canton vs Naples 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%).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Naples | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
3,985Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Naples 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% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Naples 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±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. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below 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. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest 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. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Lake Region High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.