Compare towns
Stoughton vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,225 |
44,795Highest |
24,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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±$6k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,050±$200 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoughton | Salem | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Stoughton High | Salem High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.