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Boston vs Canton vs Ogunquit vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

BostonBoston, MAMassachusetts · 666,442 people
Canton, MANorfolk County · 24,748 people
OgunquitOgunquit, MEYork County · 1,379 people
BrooklineBrookline, MANorfolk County · 63,266 people

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k 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.

MeasureBostonCantonOgunquitBrookline
People
Population
666,442Highest
24,748
1,379Lowest
63,266
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
35.2±1.2
10% below U.S.
Kids under 18
15.1%±0.3
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±1.4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
13%±0.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,344±$2kLowest
21% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$142,101±$8k
76% above U.S.
Canton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$731,700±$10k
120% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kLowest
114% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,246,800±$67kHighest
275% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,147±$25Lowest
52% above U.S.
$2,315±$178
64% above U.S.
 —
$2,835±$82Highest
101% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,456Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,560
110% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±1.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±4
U.S.: 51.1%
Canton and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
46.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.3%±0.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.1%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Brookline 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 #258 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA — #22 of 282 in MA
School district Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton — Brookline
High school in town Boston Latin School Canton High — Brookline High
Students per teacherat that high school
18.7Highest
13.1
 —
11.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.