Compare towns
Dedham vs Medford vs Ogunquit 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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Medford has the most renters (45.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Medford | Ogunquit | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
59,354Highest |
1,379Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
35.9±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Canton and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Medford and Canton 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. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% 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% |
26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Medford | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Medford High | — | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.