Compare towns
Canton vs Dover vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Dover has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Dover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA |
— | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Canton 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.