Compare towns
Dedham vs White River Junction vs Canton vs Wakefield
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).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | White River Junction | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
3,364Lowest |
24,748 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Canton 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. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Canton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 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.