Compare towns
Dedham vs Peterborough 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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Peterborough has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Peterborough | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
6,408Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$98,401±$8kLowest 22% 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. |
$404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,395±$209Lowest 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Conval Regional High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.0 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.