Compare towns
Marlow vs Canton vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Marlow | Canton | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
24,748Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k about the U.S. average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 87% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,558Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 33% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Lempster 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 | 4 photos → | 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.