Compare towns
Canton vs Marblehead vs Stoughton
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).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k 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.
| Measure | Canton | Marblehead | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
20,413Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45.7±1.9 14% above MA |
| Marblehead and Stoughton 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton 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±$9k 38% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,050±$200 16% above MA |
| Canton and Stoughton 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
33 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Marblehead | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Marblehead High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.