Compare towns
Dedham vs Northampton vs Ogunquit 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
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Northampton | Ogunquit | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
30,962Highest |
1,379Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% 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. |
$429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Dedham 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% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.1%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northampton High | — | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | 13.1 |
| 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.