Compare towns
Dedham vs Amesbury vs Canton vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Canton has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Amesbury | Canton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
17,403Lowest |
24,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,360 23% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Amesbury | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Amesbury High | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.9 |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.