Compare towns
Upton vs Canton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham 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 | Upton | Canton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.