Compare towns
Stoughton vs Dalton vs Canton
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 homeowners (74.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
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 | Stoughton | Dalton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
6,256Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 14% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dalton and Stoughton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Stoughton 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% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoughton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,794±$6k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28k 7% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,215 4% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 15% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #196 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Central Berkshire | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Wahconah Regional High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
10.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.