What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has the most affordable homes ($592k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shrewsbury	Canton
People
Population	38,876Highest	24,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average	42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA
	Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	22.9%±2.3Lowest 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%	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1Lowest 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±$11kLowest 34% 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	$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA
	Canton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Highest 16% above MA	$6,560Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Canton and Shrewsbury 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%	5.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shrewsbury 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	#30 of 282 in MA	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	13.1Lowest
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.