What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

Acton has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.

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

Measure	Canton	Acton
People
Population	1,191Lowest	2,721Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME	52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Canton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4%	26.2%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Canton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME	$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME
	Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME	$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$485±$18 57% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,277Lowest 25% below ME	$2,680Highest 12% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.9%±33.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 42% above ME	40 minHighest 64% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Acton 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	—	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.