Compare towns

Dedham vs Woonsocket vs Foxborough 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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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.

MeasureDedhamWoonsocketFoxboroughCanton
People
Population
25,237
43,521Highest
18,615Lowest
24,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
42.4±1.9
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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Canton 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Canton 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%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$115,833±$9k
43% 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$606,300±$28k
82% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,843±$70
30% 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$7,275
133% above U.S.
$6,560
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Foxborough 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±2.9
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 #37 of 38 in RI #138 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA
School district — RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Foxborough Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town — Woonsocket High School Foxborough High Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
11.3Lowest
13.1
On TownTapestry
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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.