Compare towns
Dedham vs Strafford vs Mendon 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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Strafford | Mendon | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,372 |
1,113Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Mendon 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 | — | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Strafford School District | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 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.