Compare towns
Canton vs Newfields vs Walpole 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Newfields | Walpole | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
2,023Lowest |
26,388Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dedham 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 78% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Walpole 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. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Canton and Walpole 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. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Newfields School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Walpole High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.3 |
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.