What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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	Marblehead
People
Population	24,748Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Canton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Canton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Lowest 9% above MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#81 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Marblehead
High school in town	Canton High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.