Compare towns
Dedham vs Middlesex vs Canton vs Boston
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 population (median age 44.6).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Canton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,943Lowest |
24,748 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2kLowest 21% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Canton 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Canton High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.