Compare towns
Dedham vs Naples vs Needham 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).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Naples | Needham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
3,985Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Naples 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% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Naples 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,941±$625Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | — | Lake Region High School | Needham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.