Compare towns
Danvers vs Canton vs Dover vs Stoughton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k 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.
| Measure | Danvers | Canton | Dover | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 28,098 |
24,748 |
5,930Lowest |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Stoughton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$104,794±$6kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,050±$200Lowest 16% above MA |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654 11% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,215Lowest 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
33 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Canton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.