Compare towns
Canton vs Shrewsbury vs Upton
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%).
Shrewsbury has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Shrewsbury | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
38,876Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shrewsbury 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 |
$139,302±$11kLowest 34% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$592,300±$20k 5% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,116±$98 20% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shrewsbury 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 | #30 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Shrewsbury | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Shrewsbury High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
14.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.