Compare towns
Dedham vs Eliot vs Middleton vs Canton
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Eliot | Middleton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,146Lowest |
9,816 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Canton 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. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #71 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Middleton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | 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 |
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.