Compare towns
Shrewsbury vs Berlin vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shrewsbury has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Shrewsbury | Berlin | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,876Highest |
3,378Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Shrewsbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.6% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Shrewsbury and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $139,302±$11k 34% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Berlin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,923 16% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Shrewsbury 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 | #30 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Shrewsbury | Berlin-Boylston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Shrewsbury High School | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.4Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.