What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the highest household income ($143k).

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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	Brunswick
People
Population	24,748Highest	22,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S.	40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Canton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brunswick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.	$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.	$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,469±$99Lowest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.	$4,756Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brunswick and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canton and Brunswick 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	#30 of 133 in ME
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10
High school in town	Canton High	Brunswick High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.9Lowest
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.