Compare towns
Dedham vs Pelham vs Windham 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).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
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 | Pelham | Windham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
14,449Lowest |
16,038 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Dedham 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 60% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Dedham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Pelham School District | Windham School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Pelham High School | Windham High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
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.