Compare towns
Canton vs Windsor vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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 highest household income ($143k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Windsor | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
254Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
40.2±18.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.2%±14.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 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. |
$103,750±$40kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield 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. |
$337,500±$40kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Lowest 39% 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. |
$3,381Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor and Dedham 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±16.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.