Compare towns
Dedham vs Hull vs Canton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Hull | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,138Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% 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 | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Canton and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hull | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Hull High | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.4 |
| 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.