Compare towns

Canton vs Uxbridge vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Uxbridge has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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.

MeasureCantonUxbridgeAshland
People
Population
24,748Highest
14,473Lowest
18,873
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Highest
7% above MA
41.7±2.8Lowest
4% above MA
42.1±1.4
5% above MA
Canton and Ashland 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%
19.5%±3.4
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Canton and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
Canton and Ashland 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%
38%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
60.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
Canton and Ashland 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
$124,725±$7kLowest
20% above MA
$127,539±$11k
23% above MA
Canton and Ashland 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
$441,100±$25kLowest
22% below MA
$611,700±$18k
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178
31% above MA
$1,555±$265Lowest
12% below MA
$2,452±$298Highest
39% above MA
Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560
9% above MA
$5,836Lowest
about the MA average
$7,444Highest
24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
25.6%±5.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.2%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ashland 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%
3.6%
MA: 10%
3.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minLowest
23% above MA
37 min
26% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
15.9%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Canton and Ashland 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 #183 of 282 in MA #42 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Uxbridge Ashland
High school in town Canton High Uxbridge High Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
11.6Lowest
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.