Compare towns
Dedham vs Canton vs Boston vs Wakefield
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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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 | Canton | Boston | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
24,748Lowest |
666,442Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Boston and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Canton and Boston 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 |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Canton High | Boston Latin School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1 |
18.7Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.