Compare towns
Canton vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Shrewsbury has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
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 | Wolfeboro | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
6,571Lowest |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 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. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,923Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%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 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Canton High | Kingswood Regional High School | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.1Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.