Compare towns
Canton vs East Hampton vs Suffield 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).
East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ashland has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
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 | East Hampton | Suffield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
12,925Lowest |
15,702 |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.6±3.7 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Suffield and East Hampton 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and East Hampton 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% |
20.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| East Hampton 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. |
$124,577±$11k 54% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% 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. |
$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$6,681 114% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Ashland 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 | #75 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | East Hampton School District | Suffield School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | East Hampton High School | Suffield High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.3 |
10.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.