Compare towns

Canton vs Dummerston vs Norwood

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 highest household income ($143k).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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.

MeasureCantonDummerstonNorwood
People
Population
24,748
2,090Lowest
31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
39±1.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston 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
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Canton and Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
78% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
$107,030±$11k
33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$651,700±$13k
96% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,392±$126Lowest
about the U.S. average
$2,116±$83
50% above U.S.
Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,111
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
54%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 — #176 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Norwood
High school in town Canton High None in town Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
11.5Lowest
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.