Compare towns

Canton vs Danvers vs Norwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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.

MeasureCantonDanversNorwood
People
Population
24,748Lowest
28,098
31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
7% above MA
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
Danvers 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%
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±1.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers 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
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Norwood 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±$9kHighest
38% above MA
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$107,030±$11kLowest
about the MA average
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
26% above MA
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$651,700±$13k
16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$2,076±$192Lowest
18% above MA
$2,116±$83
20% above MA
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
9% above MA
$6,654Highest
11% above MA
$6,111Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.3%±7.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%
MA: 62.5%
54%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
30 min
4% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
16.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Canton and Danvers 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 #176 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Norwood
High school in town Canton High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
12.8
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.