Compare towns
Canton vs Everett vs Lowell vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k median).
Ashland has the most homeowners (75.3%).
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 | Everett | Lowell | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
50,045 |
118,368Highest |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Ashland 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,444Highest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Everett | Lowell | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Everett High | Lowell High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.