Compare towns
Canton vs Salem vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| 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%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.