Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Canton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Ellsworth | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
24,748Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$111,442±$18k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.