Canton vs Randolph
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $175k more for a 4BR in Canton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $175k for one tier of schooling.
Choose Canton if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
All Canton numbers →Choose Randolph if you want the lower price.
All Randolph numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsCanton ahead on 4 of 8, 1 against
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS achievement | 84th | 11th |
| Student growth | 53rd | 42nd |
| Graduation rate | 94.8% | 85.9% |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $23,538 | $24,025 |
| Schools in the district | 5 | 5 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 27 | 38 |
What a home costsRandolph ahead on 7 of 8
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $825kT2 | $650kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $650k | $515k |
| 2BR condo | $480k | $380k |
| 3BR home | $780k | $594k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.37M | $737k |
| 3BR rent | $3,617/mo | $3,360/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $215k | $175k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.2% a year | 6.8% a year |
What you pay the townCanton ahead on 1 of 4
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $9.75T1 | $11.58T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$8,000 | ≈$7,500 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,330 | $3,618 |
| Share of budget on schools | 50% | 43% |
Getting to workCanton ahead on 1 of 8
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 41 minT2 | 44 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~31 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~32 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 13 mi | 12 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 31 min | 32 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 26 min | 39 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 38 min | 40 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 35 min | 35 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 58 min | 56 min |
Before kindergartenCanton ahead on 2 of 4, 1 against
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 30 | 58 |
| Child care places | 1,321 | 1,120 |
| Centers vs family programs | 17 centers | 14 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 236 | 73 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Canton | Randolph | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,370 | 34,984 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Culture | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
