What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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	Derry
People
Population	24,748Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Canton and Derry 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%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Canton and Derry 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%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canton and Derry 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%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry 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 78% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 282 in MA	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Canton High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Lowest	13.9Highest
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.