Compare towns
Canton vs Temple vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Shrewsbury has the shortest commute (31 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.
| Measure | Canton | Temple | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,363Lowest |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Temple and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Temple 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
| Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,116±$98 50% above U.S. |
| 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 110% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Shrewsbury 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Contoocook Valley School District | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.