Compare towns
Dedham vs Douglas vs Canton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Dedham | Douglas | Canton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
9,207Lowest |
24,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.