Compare towns
Melrose vs Windham 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
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Melrose | Windham | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
19,188Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% 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 | $7,578 143% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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 | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Canton 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | RSU 14 | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Windham High School | Canton High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.1 |
13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.