Compare towns
Dedham vs Campton vs Canton vs Needham
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).
Campton has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Campton | Canton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
3,407Lowest |
24,748 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.2±3.7Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Campton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±10.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Campton 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% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Campton 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. |
$118,870±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$356,300±$38kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,028Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.6%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Campton 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% 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% |
28.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Campton 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Campton School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Canton High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.