Compare towns
Strafford vs Canton vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Strafford | Canton | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
24,748Highest |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3 17% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$71,618±$12kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,117±$80Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,640Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.