Compare towns

Canton vs Mansfield vs Stoneham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureCantonMansfieldStoneham
People
Population
24,748Highest
23,931
23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Highest
7% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
Canton and Stoneham 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%
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Canton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham 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
MA: 47.3%
51.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Mansfield and Stoneham 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
38% above MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
$113,964±$10kLowest
10% above MA
Canton and Mansfield 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
$603,500±$28kLowest
7% above MA
$671,900±$26k
20% above MA
Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,035±$142
15% above MA
Canton and Stoneham 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
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$6,523Lowest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2
MA: 51.8%
Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Canton and Stoneham 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 #60 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Mansfield Stoneham
High school in town Canton High Mansfield High Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.1
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.