Compare towns
Canton vs Plainfield vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
2,522Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Canton 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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 64% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%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. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Plainfield School District | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.