Compare towns
Canton vs Whately vs Dedham 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%).
Whately has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.
| Measure | Canton | Whately | Dedham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,499Lowest |
25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Whately 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Dedham 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% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$116,563±$15kLowest 12% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above 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 |
$431,500±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Whately 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Whately | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.