Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Canton vs Foxborough
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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Canton | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,227Lowest |
24,748 |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Webster and Dedham 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$115,833±$9k 43% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$606,300±$28k 82% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,843±$70 30% 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,275 133% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.9 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Merrimack Valley School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | 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 |
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.