What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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	Nelson
People
Population	24,748Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Canton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Canton 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	—
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Nelson School District
High school in town	Canton High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.