Compare towns
Dedham vs Dighton vs Stoneham 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 population (median age 44.6).
Dighton has the most affordable homes ($502k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Dighton | Stoneham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,193Lowest |
23,355 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Dighton 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% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Dighton 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Canton and Dighton 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 |
$501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Canton and Stoneham 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 |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% 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 |
$6,452Lowest 8% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 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%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Stoneham 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Stoneham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Bristol County Agricultural High | Stoneham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
10.7 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.