Compare towns

Whitman vs Canton vs Brockton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
Brockton has the most renters (42.6% rent).

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.

MeasureWhitmanCantonBrockton
People
Population
15,295Lowest
24,748
105,386Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+12.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.4±1.8
about the MA average
42.6±2.3Highest
7% above MA
36.7±0.8Lowest
8% below MA
Canton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Brockton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Canton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.3%
MA: 47.3%
67.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Brockton and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,933±$14k
5% above MA
$143,381±$9kHighest
38% above MA
$80,115±$3kLowest
23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$472,700±$12k
16% below MA
$710,600±$27kHighest
26% above MA
$437,500±$8kLowest
22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,771±$151
about the MA average
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$1,641±$52Lowest
7% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,824
about the MA average
$6,560Highest
9% above MA
$4,820Lowest
20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±13.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
54.5%±4.2
MA: 51.8%
Whitman and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.9%
MA: 10%
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.5%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.4%
MA: 62.5%
73.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
24% above MA
36 min
23% above MA
32 minLowest
8% above MA
Work from home
10.8%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #191 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA #279 of 282 in MA
School district Whitman-Hanson Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Brockton
High school in town None in town Canton High Brockton High
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Lowest
17.0Highest
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.