Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Sutton vs Canton
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
17,748 |
9,452Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Sutton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% 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 | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Sutton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Webster | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
12.6 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.