Compare towns
Dedham vs Boylston vs Canton
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Boylston has the most affordable homes ($579k median).
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 | Boylston | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
4,948Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Boylston 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 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Canton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,266 21% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Tahanto Regional High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.