Compare towns
Canton vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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.
| Measure | Canton | Exeter | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
16,151Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Norwood 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwood 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,111Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norwood 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Canton High | Exeter High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.