Compare towns
Canton vs Southwick vs Suffield 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 the most people working from home (25.7%).
Southwick has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Southwick | Suffield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
9,217Lowest |
15,702 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.8±1.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Southwick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Southwick 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% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$120,462±$16k 49% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$397,500±$27kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,332±$72Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$5,331Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #211 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District | Suffield School District | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | Southwick Regional School | Suffield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.0 |
10.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.