Compare towns
Dedham vs Coventry vs Canton vs Wakefield
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 population (median age 44.6).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% 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 | Coventry | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
35,907Highest |
24,748Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Coventry 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% |
18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Coventry 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% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Coventry 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. |
$102,946±$8kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| 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±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$356,200±$11kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$1,206±$155Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%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. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #81 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Coventry | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Coventry High School | Canton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
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.