Compare towns
Dedham vs Hudson vs Boston 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).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Hudson | Boston | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
20,077Lowest |
666,442Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Hudson 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% 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 |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Boston 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 |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Boston 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 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% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hudson | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hudson High | Boston Latin School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
18.7Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.