Nestled in the heart of Massachusetts’ Norfolk County is the medium-sized town of Canton, known for being the HQ of Dunkin’ Donuts and among the country’s most wealthy, affluent, and exclusive communities. Canton is a suburb of Boston and about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston. Canton was incorporated in 1797, and it gets its name from the misheld belief that it sits directly opposite Canton, China on the Earth’s axis. While this is impossible due to the latitude, the longitude is almost there… Paul Revere’s poem Canton Dale was written about the town after he built the country’s first rolling copper mill here. Some other famous names like Bill Burr, Kevin Rooney, and Charles Hogan have also called Canton home, along with Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins. Here’s everything you can look forward to while living in Canton, MA.
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Canton MA Population & Demographics
The population of Canton, MA is 21,561. It’s 19.6 sq miles large, with a population density of 1,289.4 per square mile. Canton town has a median age of 39.5 years with a 47.7/52.3% male/female split. The racial makeup of Canton is as follows:
- 79.9% white
- 7.5% Asian
- 6.6% African American
- 3.9% Hispanic or Latino
- 0.1% Native American
- 0.02% Pacific Islander
- 0.51% Other
- 2.1% Two or more races
The Canton Police Department serves Canton with 725 sworn officers. Canton is a very safe place to live with crime rates 61% lower than the rest of the country. It’s 34% safer than other Massachusetts communities.
Canton Cost of Living | How Much Does Living in Canton MA Cost?
Canton’s real estate often features among America’s most expensive, with Massachusetts already being the country’s sixth most expensive state to live in. Compared to the rest of the country, Canton’s cost of living is 51% higher.
Everyday Costs in Canton, MA
- Utilities: $193.97 p/m
- Internet: $52.50
- Gallon of milk: $4.20
- Fresh loaf of bread: $2.67
- Domestic Beer: $6.00
- Gallon of gasoline: $2.40
Follow this link for more everyday Canton expenses from Numbeo. Redfin ranks Canton’s housing market as very competitive. While the 2021 median house price was down 4.5% on the previous year, prices in Canton are still 40% higher than the rest of the nation. While the US median house price stands just shy of $375,000, Canton’s median house price is $525,000. You can see here to get an idea of what you can get for your money. The average rent in Canton MA is $2,193 for a one bed apartment. Unlike house prices, rent has gone up over the previous year, with a 22% increase since 2020. Only 23.6% of Canton rents, however, which is slightly less than the 37.6% of renters over Massachusetts as a whole.
Best Neighborhoods in Canton
Here are some of the best places to live in Canton, MA.
Ponkapoag
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Ponkapoag is Canton’s most expensive neighborhood with a median real estate price of $787,210. While newer properties do exist, most of the houses here are fairly old and wellestablished with most built between 1940 and 1970. If you’re moving to Canton with a family, Ponkapoag has been rated more family friendly than 95.2% of other Massachusetts neighborhoods in part due to its low crime rates and top public schools.
Turnpike St/New Boston Dr
Turnpike St/New Boston Dr has the highest rent prices in Canton with an average of $4,053 – higher than 90.8% of other Massachusetts neighborhoods. Small to medium-sized family homes make up most of Turnpike St/New Boston Dr, along with high-rise apartments/complexes. Turnpike St/New Boston Dr is an idyllic neighborhood for any retirees, being peaceful, quiet, and with crime stats well below the MA average. Turnpike St/New Boston Dr ranks in the top 0.5% of retiree-friendly Massachusetts neighborhoods.
Canton Junction/Summer Heights
Canton Junction/Summer Heights is the most affluent neighborhood in Canton and one of the wealthiest communities in the whole country. Finding vacancies in one of Canton Junction/Summer Heights’ medium to large sized family homes can be tricky though, as it has incredibly low vacancy rates. Those who love the arts will definitely feel right at home in Canton Junction/Summer Heights.
Canton Town Center
Canton Town Center is the most affordable Canton neighborhood, with a median property price of $527,272. While it’s not the cheapest Canton neighborhood for renting, its $3,214 p/m average is close. Both are still far over the Massachusetts average, however. Like other spots in Canton, most properties aren’t too old. Most were built between 1970 and 1999, and are small to medium sized (studio or two bedroom to three or four bedroom).
How Far is Canton from Boston?
Canton and Boston are only a 20 mile (25 minute) drive from one another, following the I-93, US-1, and MA 3 route. Canton’s close proximity to Boston makes it perfect for commuting. One of Boston and the wider areas greatest benefits is their fantastic public transportation options. Boston’s Metro system is one of the best, with Canton just shy of an hour away on the BMTA Commuter Rail.
Canton MA Weather and Climate
Canton’s climate features some pretty typical New England weather, with low lows in the winter and high highs in the summer. April to October are the warmest months, especially June to September. The highest average temperatures are usually around 80 in July, with lows around 55/60 throughout the summer. The lows between November and April range from 34 down to 18, with January and February seeing the worst of it. The highest recorded temperatures in winter have been in the 60s up to the 80s, although it wouldn’t normally get any warmer than the mid 30s. Around 50 inches of rain is typical each year, falling relatively steadily throughout the year. The winter months see around 62 inches of snowfall between November and April.
Top Attractions in Canton, MA
Blue Hills Reservation
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If you’re looking for gorgeous scenery and stunning hikes, the 7,000 acres of Blue Hills Reservation should do the job. There are countless activities to enjoy, including hiking, skiing, rock climbing, horseback riding, boating, camping, fishing, and more!
695 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186 (617) 698-1802
Treetop Adventures
Feel like soaring above the trees over 27 zip lines, or taking 10 trails full of ropes and obstacle courses? Their 10 trails range from beginner to expert, and everyone aged 7 and up is welcome at Treetop Adventures. Great for the whole family!
200 New Boston Dr, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 989-5800
Global Flight Adventures
Ever wanted to take control of your own 737? Well now you can… almost! Global Flight Adventures is a state-of-the-art flight simulator center, offering one-on-one lessons on how to fly. Every button, switch, lever and gauge works just like the real thing, and their instructors will have you flying like a pro in no time!
609 Neponset St #2, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 562-1096
Some more of Canton’s most popular attractions include:
Where to Eat in Canton
What’s a great town without great places to eat? Luckily for Canton, it doesn’t disappoint.
Stone L’oven Pizza Co
Paramount to moving into any new area is finding your favorite pizza joint. Stone L’oven is up to the task, with their simple mission to offer only the most natural and creative pizzas, in traditional Neapolitan style.
8 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 575-1700
Takara
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Frequently recognised for their outstanding sushi, Takara blends the classic Japanese dishes of old with their own modern interpretations, always insisting on only the freshest, highest quality ingredients.
592 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 821-8822
Waterfall Bar & Grille
If fresh casual food in a laidback and friendly atmosphere is your thing, then Waterfall Bar & Grille is the place. Their menu includes all the classics, and whether you’re after a quick lunch, a full meal, or just a beer and a snack, Waterfall Bar & Grille has you covered.
643 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021, (781) 821-2313
Some more great Canton MA restaurants include:
- Pho 29 – 645 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021
- Rosetta’s Italian Restaurant – 521 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021
- Sombrero’s Mexican Restaurant – 95 Washington St STE 600, Canton, MA 02021
- Thyme – 515 Washington St, Canton, MA 02021
Canton MA Jobs
Canton’s average salary is $69,805, putting it around 24% above the $56,310 US average. More people in Canton work in computers and math than 95% of the country, which has led to the prevalence of white-collar jobs in the town. Since Massachusetts is infamous for having a Dunkin Donuts on every other street corner, it’s no surprise that Dunkin Brands is Canton’s top employer – especially with their headquarters based in Canton. The top 5 employers in Canton, MA are:
For all the most up to date job listings in the area, check out the latest Indeed job listings in Canton.
Canton Schools
There are six schools in Canton, all run by the Canton School District. According to Great Schools, Canton’s schools grade 80% average and 20% above average, with John F Kennedy Elementary School earning the highest rating. For middle and high school there’s Wm H Galvin Middle and Canton High, the latter of which features such notable alumni as Chuck Hogan, Bobby Witt, Bill Burr and Kevin Rooney. The Canton Public Library will also come in handy, whether it’s for students looking for somewhere to research and study or for anyone else! Be sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram to keep up to date with all their latest goings on.
Canton Statistics & Information
- County: Norfolk
- Canton ZIP codes: 02021
- Phone area codes: 781/339
- Time zone: UTC-5 (Eastern)
- Elevation: 100ft (30m)
- Canton, MA area: 19.6 sq mi (50.7 km2)
Canton, MA Map
Living in Canton Pros
- It’s only 20 miles from Boston
- Canton’s schools are all highly rated
- There’s lots of amazing outdoor space for hikes and walks
- Canton is home to some great shops and restaurants
- Easy to use commuter rail
Ready to call Canton your new home? You’ll need a mover you can trust, and at Mass Bay Movers, we have everything you need to get you moving to Canton MA in no time at all. So why not give us a call, and find out why we’re the number one Canton MA movers!
