Compare towns

Stoughton vs Canton vs Sharon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most affordable homes ($524k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).

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.

MeasureStoughtonCantonSharon
People
Population
29,225Highest
24,748
18,574Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
MA: +7.4%
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
14% above MA
42.6±2.3
7% above MA
42.5±1Lowest
6% above MA
Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
27.2%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Sharon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±2
MA: 17.9%
17.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
67.5%
MA: 47.3%
76.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
Stoughton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,794±$6kLowest
about the MA average
$143,381±$9k
38% above MA
$191,835±$19kHighest
85% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$523,800±$28kLowest
7% below MA
$710,600±$27k
26% above MA
$737,100±$33kHighest
31% above MA
Sharon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,050±$200Lowest
16% above MA
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$2,310±$345
31% above MA
Canton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,215Lowest
4% above MA
$6,560
9% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.4%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
49%±16.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.1%
MA: 62.5%
73.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
5 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
15% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
39 minHighest
33% above MA
Work from home
15.4%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
31.5%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Sharon 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 #196 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA #23 of 282 in MA
School district Stoughton Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Sharon
High school in town Stoughton High Canton High Sharon High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.8Lowest
13.1Highest
11.9
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.