What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bedford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Bedford
People
Population	24,748Highest	14,727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA
	Bedford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Canton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Bedford and Canton 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%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA	$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA
	Bedford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA	$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA
	Bedford 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	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	5.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford 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	#7 of 282 in MA
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Bedford
High school in town	Canton High	Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.2Lowest
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.