Compare towns
Dedham vs Middleton vs Nelson 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | Middleton | Nelson | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
9,816 |
648Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| 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±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Middleton | Nelson School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 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.