Compare towns
Canton vs Gardner vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Avon has the most people working from home (33.7%).
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 | Canton | Gardner | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
21,148Highest |
18,946 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±5.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Canton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Avon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Avon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,991±$20k 46% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$154,058±$13kHighest 91% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,300±$24k 19% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$479,700±$20kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,403±$358 about the U.S. average |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,857±$151Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Avon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,232 132% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$9,371Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±28.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.6%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Avon 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 | #22 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #31 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canton School District | Gardner | Avon School District · Capitol Region Education Council |
| High school in town | Canton High School | Gardner High | Avon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.