Compare towns
Canton vs Danvers vs Epping 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%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k 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 | Danvers | Epping | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
28,098 |
7,430Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Danvers and Epping 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% 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. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Norwood 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Epping 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Epping School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Epping High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.