Compare towns

Canton vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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.

MeasureCantonRyeDedham
People
Population
24,748
5,611Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
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.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kLowest
60% above U.S.
Canton and Rye 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.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kLowest
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Lowest
26% 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
$6,560Lowest
110% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #119 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Rye School District —
High school in town Canton High None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
— —
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.