What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).

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	Johnston
People
Population	24,748Lowest	29,835Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.5±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Johnston 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%	17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnston 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%	28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Johnston 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.	$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.	$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,275±$132Lowest 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.	$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canton and Johnston 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%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 282 in MA	#32 of 38 in RI
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Johnston
High school in town	Canton High	Johnston Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.