Compare towns
Dedham vs Windsor Locks vs Wakefield 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 population (median age 44.6).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Windsor Locks | Wakefield | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
12,579Lowest |
27,793Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102 39% 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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
10.7 |
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.