Compare towns
Canton vs Bow vs Norwood
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Bow | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
8,335Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Canton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwood and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Bow School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Canton High | Bow High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.