What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k 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	Ashland
People
Population	24,748Highest	18,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Canton and Ashland 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%	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA
	Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% 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	$6,560Lowest 9% above MA	$7,444Highest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Canton 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%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 23% above MA	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Canton and Ashland 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	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Ashland
High school in town	Canton High	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.