Compare towns
Dedham vs Merrimac 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).
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.
| Measure | Dedham | Merrimac | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
6,748Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Merrimac and Dedham 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$123,054±$16kLowest 18% above 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 |
$553,400±$38kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Pentucket | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.