Compare towns
Dedham vs Gorham vs Canton 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
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k 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 | Gorham | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
18,300Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% 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 | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.