Compare towns
Canton vs Needham vs Dedham vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k 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 | Needham | Dedham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham | — | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Needham High | — | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.9Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| 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.