Compare towns
Dedham vs Everett vs Fall River 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
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 | Everett | Fall River | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
24,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Canton 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Everett 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
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.