Compare towns

Canton vs Millis vs Rowley

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%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Rowley 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.

MeasureCantonMillisRowley
People
Population
24,748Highest
8,888
6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Lowest
7% above MA
46.4±3
16% above MA
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
Rowley and Millis 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%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
Canton and Rowley 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%
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±4.1
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Rowley 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%
54.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Millis and Rowley 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
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
$132,734±$32kLowest
28% above MA
Millis and Canton 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±$31kLowest
7% above MA
$667,300±$52k
19% above MA
Canton and Rowley 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
$1,696±$279
4% below MA
$1,603±$520Lowest
9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560Lowest
9% above MA
$9,344Highest
56% above MA
$8,309
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Millis 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%
4.8%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1975
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
28 minLowest
3% below MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±4.2
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #81 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Millis Triton
High school in town Canton High Millis High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.