Compare towns
Canton vs Springfield vs Temple
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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Temple 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% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Temple 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Temple 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 | — | Contoocook Valley 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 | 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.