Compare towns
Dedham vs Dalton vs Canton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Dalton | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
6,256Lowest |
24,748 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dalton 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% 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 |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Central Berkshire | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Wahconah Regional High | Canton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.9 |
13.1Highest |
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.