Compare towns

Madison vs Canton vs New Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.

MeasureMadisonCantonNew Durham
People
Population
2,680Lowest
24,748Highest
2,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±9.7Highest
29% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
46.5±7.5
20% above U.S.
Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.1%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Madison and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.1%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Durham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Canton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,697±$11k
27% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$100,194±$13kLowest
24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,700±$36k
17% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
$339,400±$27kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,556±$256
10% above U.S.
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,417±$116Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,074Lowest
31% above U.S.
$6,560Highest
110% above U.S.
$5,774
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.2%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±42.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Madison and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #81 of 282 in MA —
School district Madison School District Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Canton High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
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.