What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).

Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canton	Mendon
People
Population	10,144Highest	6,325Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±5.2Highest 16% above U.S.	44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Canton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mendon 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%	14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mendon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,991±$20kLowest 46% above U.S.	$132,256±$33kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Mendon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,300±$24kLowest 19% above U.S.	$616,000±$37kHighest 85% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,403±$358Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,840±$196Highest 30% above U.S.
	Mendon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,232Highest 132% above U.S.	$7,213Lowest 131% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.9%±28.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mendon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	24.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canton and Mendon 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	#210 of 282 in MA
School district	Canton School District	Mendon-Upton
High school in town	Canton High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.