Compare towns
Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Worcester 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Worcester | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,379Lowest |
207,055Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above 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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Worcester 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | South High Community | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
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.