Compare towns
Stoughton vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($524k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.
| Measure | Stoughton | Dover | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225Highest |
5,930Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Stoughton and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Stoughton 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Dover and Canton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
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.