Compare towns
Dedham vs Lawrence vs Canton vs Boston
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).
Lawrence has the most affordable homes ($415k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
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 | Lawrence | Canton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
88,736 |
24,748Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
33.3±0.2 17% below 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Canton 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below 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 |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% 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 |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lawrence | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lawrence High School | Canton High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.6 |
13.1 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.