Compare towns

Dedham vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($545k 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.

MeasureDedhamHamptonCanton
People
Population
25,237Highest
10,101Lowest
24,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
51.2±1.7Highest
32% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7Lowest
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.
$97,163±$4kLowest
20% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
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
99% above U.S.
$545,300±$63kLowest
64% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,654±$93Lowest
17% above U.S.
$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
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$6,872
120% above U.S.
$6,560Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%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.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Canton and Hampton 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 #31 of 120 in NH #81 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham — Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town Dedham High — Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.