Compare towns
Ashland vs Canton vs Upton vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k 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 | Ashland | Canton | Upton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
24,748Highest |
8,189Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 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+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% 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 | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Swampscott and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 minLowest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Canton High | Blackstone Valley | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.