Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton 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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Middleton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Middleton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% 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 | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Middleton | 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.