What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k 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	Andover
People
Population	24,748Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	42.9±1Highest 7% above MA
	Andover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Andover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Canton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA	$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA	$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA	$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA
	Canton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Lowest 9% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Andover 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	#81 of 282 in MA	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Canton High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.