Compare towns
Canton vs Marlow vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Norwood has the most renters (46% rent).
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 | Marlow | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
855Lowest |
31,542Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Marlow 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% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwood 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. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwood and Canton 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Marlow School District | Norwood |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.