Compare towns
Canton vs Glocester vs Smithfield 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).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Glocester | Smithfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
10,221Lowest |
22,233 |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Glocester 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kLowest 26% 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. |
$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester and Smithfield 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | #8 of 38 in RI | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Smithfield | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Ponaganset High School | Smithfield High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8 |
11.8Lowest |
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.