Compare towns
Dedham vs Reading vs Canton vs Foxborough
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 population (median age 44.6).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Foxborough has the most affordable homes ($606k median).
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 | Reading | Canton | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,612Highest |
24,748 |
18,615Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
42.4±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Canton 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Canton High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.