Compare towns

Canton 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%).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
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.

MeasureCantonSuffieldDedham
People
Population
24,748
15,702Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
44.5±1.7
14% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Dedham and Suffield 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%
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
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.
$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.
$407,500±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,424±$141Lowest
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.
$6,456Lowest
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%±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%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
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.
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.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Lowest
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 #57 of 149 in CT #119 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Suffield School District Dedham
High school in town Canton High Suffield High School Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
10.9
10.4Lowest
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.