Compare towns
Dedham vs Erving vs Burlington 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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Burlington has the most expensive homes ($741k 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 | Erving | Burlington | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,703Lowest |
26,274Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Burlington 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% |
16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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 |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Burlington 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 18% above MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Burlington 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 |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Burlington and Canton 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 |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 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% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Burlington 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 | — | #83 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Erving | Burlington | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Burlington High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
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.