Compare towns
Dedham vs Bethlehem vs Canton vs Stoneham
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).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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 | Bethlehem | Canton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,537Lowest |
24,748 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% 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. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Canton and Stoneham 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. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% 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. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Canton 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Profile Senior High School | Canton High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
8.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.