What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most people working from home (16.1%).

Springfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).

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	Springfield
People
Population	1,191Highest	310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.6% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME	52.4±7Highest 17% above ME
	Springfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Canton and Springfield 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%	21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Canton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Canton and Springfield 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	$60,833±$23kHighest 19% below ME
	Springfield 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±$50kHighest 44% below ME	$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME
	Canton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$485±$18 57% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,277Highest 25% below ME	$1,067Lowest 65% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.9%±33.8 ME: 48.4%	—
Below poverty line	8.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 42% above ME	30 minLowest 21% above ME
Work from home	16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9%	9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Canton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.