Compare towns
Canton vs Putney vs Middlesex
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Putney | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
2,622 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Middlesex 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.