What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($466k median).

Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

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	Salisbury	Canton
People
Population	5,656Lowest	24,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+13%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA	42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA
	Salisbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salisbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA	$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA	$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA
	Canton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA	$6,560Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest MA: 10%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Canton and Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	—	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.