Compare towns
Canton vs Marblehead vs Acton
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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
20,413Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Canton 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton 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±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Canton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Canton High | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.