Compare towns
Dedham vs Everett vs Wakefield 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Canton has the highest household income ($143k).
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 | Wakefield | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
50,045Highest |
27,793 |
24,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
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% |
20%±2.2 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% 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% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,779 30% above 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% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% 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 |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Everett | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Everett High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
10.7 |
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.