Compare towns
Canton vs Dorset vs Ashland
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 the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Dorset | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
2,092Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Canton 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Ashland 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. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Canton and Ashland 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. |
$569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Ashland 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Canton 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 | — | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.