What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoneham 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canton	Stoneham
People
Population	24,748Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Canton and Stoneham 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%	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Canton and Stoneham 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%	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoneham 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%	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham 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±$9kHighest 38% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA
	Canton and Stoneham 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	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
	Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,560Highest 9% above MA	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 23% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Canton and Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton	Stoneham
High school in town	Canton High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.