Compare towns
Dedham vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,080Lowest |
24,748 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% 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. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% 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. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%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% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Oyster River Coop School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Oyster River 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 | 51 photos → | 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.