What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	24,748Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Canton and Durham 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.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canton and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Canton High	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.