Compare towns
Dedham vs Cornwall vs Burlington vs Canton
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).
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Burlington has the most expensive homes ($741k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Cornwall | Burlington | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,208Lowest |
26,274Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Burlington 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% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Canton 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. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Canton 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. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Canton 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. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Cornwall 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 | — | #83 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Burlington | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Burlington High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.