Compare towns
Dedham vs Thomaston vs Canton vs Stoneham
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).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Canton has the highest household income ($143k).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Canton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,492Lowest |
24,748 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Stoneham 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thomaston 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. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% 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. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Canton and Stoneham 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. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% 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. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Stoneham 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Thomaston School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Thomaston High School | Canton High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
13.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.