Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Spencer 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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 | Needham | Spencer | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459Highest |
12,008Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Spencer-E Brookfield | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | David Prouty High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.