Compare towns
Canton vs Stoneham vs Plainville
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 the highest household income ($143k).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.
| Measure | Canton | Stoneham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Highest |
23,355 |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville 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% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham and Plainville 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Stoneham 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 78% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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 110% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Stoneham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Canton High | Stoneham High | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.