Compare towns
Dedham vs Danvers vs Whitman vs Canton
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Danvers | Whitman | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
28,098Highest |
15,295Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Whitman 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Whitman 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Canton and Dedham 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 |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,771±$151Lowest about the MA average |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Danvers 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Whitman-Hanson | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| 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.