Compare towns
Dedham vs Exeter vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
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 | Exeter | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
16,151Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% 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 | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.