What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).

Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).

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	Chilmark
People
Population	24,748Highest	1,578Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+40%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Canton and Chilmark 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%	36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	68.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Canton and Chilmark 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	$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA
	Chilmark 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	$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA	$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA
	Chilmark and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Highest 9% above MA	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Chilmark 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%	4.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%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 minHighest 23% above MA	32 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6%	25.7%±11 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Up-Island Regional
High school in town	Canton High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
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.