Compare towns

Canton vs Dover vs Everett

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% 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.

MeasureCantonDoverEverett
People
Population
24,748
5,930Lowest
50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
7% above MA
44.9±2.3Highest
12% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
Dover 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
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1Lowest
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%
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$143,381±$9k
38% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27k
26% above MA
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$610,000±$23kLowest
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178
31% above MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
$2,076±$69Lowest
18% 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
$6,560
9% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Everett 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%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
35 minLowest
19% above MA
35 min
20% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dover 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 #1 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Dover · Dover-Sherborn Everett
High school in town Canton High Dover-Sherborn Regional High Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
9.8Lowest
12.1
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.