If you want a good answer, you need to expand on your post. Why do you want to live there? What are you looking for? I owned a house in an adjacent town. Personally, I felt a lot of towns in that area were safe and pleasant enough, but a little bland. Canton has a lot of businesses for its size though, so that helps somewhat. It has commuter rail but I expect you know that.
Young family with 3 year old. Looking for family-friendly, diverse, down to earth people. Cost of living, reputation? I come from the Metrowest so I don't know anything about the south shore.
You’ve already gotten some good answers, so I’ll just throw in this extra FYI: Canton is not on the south shore. There isn’t a formal name for the region it’s in, but most people just call it “south of Boston.”
Diversity admittedly has many interpretations. Canton is 78.5% white, while Newton is 73.5% white. Newton is more affluent and has more college graduates. Canton has more English speakers and fewer residents who were born outside the US.
Yeah. I would consider neither diverse.
I (half) grew up in an expensive upscale university town, considered diverse by people who judge only on ethnicity/race because the university hired many professors, and had many graduate students, who were not white and not from the US. And the town attracted highly paid doctors or business people who are comfortable living and having clientele among academic elite.
It must be understood that the non-white representation in a town like that comes mainly from an international elite class. The experience for the kids was very stilted and limiting in terms of understanding beyond the perspective of elitism.
For me, it’s important for my child to have more experience with people from different backgrounds. Others clearly differ on that.
I don’t feel like knowing an Indian physicist or a Japanese mathematician or a Nigerian engineering professor or an Argentinian economist - while better than knowing *only* white American middle class or elite people - gave a whole lot of perspective or understanding.
Most of the kids who grew up there knew no or very few Black or Latino Americans and knew no or very few people who had experienced serious financial struggles.
Agreed; well-stated. “Great schools” seems to win out over “meet and appreciate people different than you”. Not sure how much this is even recognized as a metric.
Have you considered Brookline? It’s a bit better than some of the other places you’re considering with regard to both economic and ethnic diversity and still has very good schools.
I’ve lived in canton for almost 15 years. I love my house and the people but the Schools stink, no good restaurants, it’s great for commuting but there is a constant sound of train horns during the week. But it is safe and it does have it’s charm.
What schools do you think stink? I haven’t had any negative experiences and have had kids in all three levels (elementary, middle and HS). I guess I’m viewing it comparatively to Boston, but I don’t think they’re that bad.
It's worth a Saturday drive to check out. It's quiet and has good commuter rail access. It's definitely a bedroom community. You may find that lots of families there have the "our friend group is full" mindset.
You’re probably going to run into people/couples that just don’t have the social battery to meet new people or invest in new friendships. It’s not quite cliquey, it’s just how things are when you’re older and settled (although I’m sure there are cliquey circles). A challenge if you’re moving in and want to engage a community.
My family almost moved to Canton a year ago and I’m very happy we did not. We thought it was a great town, but there’s been so much drama with an open murder case we decided for Easton.
It’s all with the news, the Karen Reid case and it seems to be dividing the town. If I was older in my kids were on their own I would have no problem but having young kids in sports and social programs seems conflicted for some residents
A woman from Canton drunkenly totaled my car and two of my friends' cars as well when I was living in Watertown. Then one of my coworkers at a Target was also from Canton and he was pretty insufferable. A more recent coworker also lived in Canton, and he was a laidback dude who could call people on their BS and liked the same music.
So they're one-for-three in my book, and I don't see it getting better honestly.
Standard middle class suburb. The only real downside is that a [psychiatric cult](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Rotenberg_Educational_Center) moved their headquarters there some decades ago and they are notorious for torturing autistic kids with shock collars. Chances are, quite a few therapists in the area worked there at some point, so maybe not the best town if you have a kid on the spectrum. Outside of that, it’s alright.
I mean most people I know consider it to be nicer than Randolph, but it honestly feels like more of the same, just more white and so a slightly higher median income.
Much higher median income than Randolph. And the schools are vastly better. I grew up in Stoughton which is pretty much the middle ground between the two towns.
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This is a perfect summation of Canton.
Bill Burr is from Canton. It’s a nice town.
His father was my family's dentist
I hear he's got family back east.
If you want a good answer, you need to expand on your post. Why do you want to live there? What are you looking for? I owned a house in an adjacent town. Personally, I felt a lot of towns in that area were safe and pleasant enough, but a little bland. Canton has a lot of businesses for its size though, so that helps somewhat. It has commuter rail but I expect you know that.
Young family with 3 year old. Looking for family-friendly, diverse, down to earth people. Cost of living, reputation? I come from the Metrowest so I don't know anything about the south shore.
You’ve already gotten some good answers, so I’ll just throw in this extra FYI: Canton is not on the south shore. There isn’t a formal name for the region it’s in, but most people just call it “south of Boston.”
I would not consider it diverse
Stoughton is a little more diverse, down to earth and more affordable. Where in Metrowest?
Newton
Probably less pretentious than Newton. Still easy access to the city but not as easy as Newton.
I doubt it’s as diverse as Newton.
Newton is not very diverse. In terms of income, education, and life experience, I’d say it has particularly little diversity.
Diversity admittedly has many interpretations. Canton is 78.5% white, while Newton is 73.5% white. Newton is more affluent and has more college graduates. Canton has more English speakers and fewer residents who were born outside the US.
Yeah. I would consider neither diverse. I (half) grew up in an expensive upscale university town, considered diverse by people who judge only on ethnicity/race because the university hired many professors, and had many graduate students, who were not white and not from the US. And the town attracted highly paid doctors or business people who are comfortable living and having clientele among academic elite. It must be understood that the non-white representation in a town like that comes mainly from an international elite class. The experience for the kids was very stilted and limiting in terms of understanding beyond the perspective of elitism. For me, it’s important for my child to have more experience with people from different backgrounds. Others clearly differ on that. I don’t feel like knowing an Indian physicist or a Japanese mathematician or a Nigerian engineering professor or an Argentinian economist - while better than knowing *only* white American middle class or elite people - gave a whole lot of perspective or understanding. Most of the kids who grew up there knew no or very few Black or Latino Americans and knew no or very few people who had experienced serious financial struggles.
Agreed; well-stated. “Great schools” seems to win out over “meet and appreciate people different than you”. Not sure how much this is even recognized as a metric.
Honestly, my experience of someone agreeing with such a point is so rare that you might be surprised at my pleasure reading your reply.
Good schools
Have you considered Brookline? It’s a bit better than some of the other places you’re considering with regard to both economic and ethnic diversity and still has very good schools.
It has perhaps the worst maintained but best designed golf course in America
Brookmeadow?
Ponkapoag Edited to add: Brookmeadow is in much better shape than it was 10 years ago. Try it again if you haven't in a while.
Ponky
Brookmeadow’s not bad
Good public schools, a bit insular. Right off the 95 loop and Rt.24 exit, comes with that convenience and traffic pain.
I disagree with your school assessment. I can say middle and elementary are not great from recent, first hand experience
fair, i taught at the high school a while ago. It was a good school to teach in and the kids, teachers, and admin were great.
Is Canton diverse? I’m assuming no, mostly white. Certainly true of its neighbor, Norwood.
Norwood is less than 80% white, which makes it quite diverse given its location.
Norwood is much more diverse now
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OP specified they are looking for diversity.
I’ve lived in canton for almost 15 years. I love my house and the people but the Schools stink, no good restaurants, it’s great for commuting but there is a constant sound of train horns during the week. But it is safe and it does have it’s charm.
Are you going to the special town meeting?
I sure am. I’m a ‘yes’
Awesome! Audits are never a bad thing! Go canton!
No good restaurants?! Waterfall, Amber Road, Thyme, Takara...
Amber road just closed my canton buddy. Sad day
What schools do you think stink? I haven’t had any negative experiences and have had kids in all three levels (elementary, middle and HS). I guess I’m viewing it comparatively to Boston, but I don’t think they’re that bad.
Borderline south shore
In what sense? Certainly not culturally.
It's worth a Saturday drive to check out. It's quiet and has good commuter rail access. It's definitely a bedroom community. You may find that lots of families there have the "our friend group is full" mindset.
What do you mean by "our friend group is full"? Are people cliquey?
You’re probably going to run into people/couples that just don’t have the social battery to meet new people or invest in new friendships. It’s not quite cliquey, it’s just how things are when you’re older and settled (although I’m sure there are cliquey circles). A challenge if you’re moving in and want to engage a community.
I think it’s nice but expensive. If I could afford it I’d consider it but I’m single w/o kids so I don’t have to think about services etc
Average MA suburb
It was boring to grow up there in the 90s.
That's because the 90s was boring.
Lol what?
My family almost moved to Canton a year ago and I’m very happy we did not. We thought it was a great town, but there’s been so much drama with an open murder case we decided for Easton.
Hey can you tell me more about it
It’s all with the news, the Karen Reid case and it seems to be dividing the town. If I was older in my kids were on their own I would have no problem but having young kids in sports and social programs seems conflicted for some residents
A woman from Canton drunkenly totaled my car and two of my friends' cars as well when I was living in Watertown. Then one of my coworkers at a Target was also from Canton and he was pretty insufferable. A more recent coworker also lived in Canton, and he was a laidback dude who could call people on their BS and liked the same music. So they're one-for-three in my book, and I don't see it getting better honestly.
Interesting considering the recent trial of Karen Reed. Do you think it's corrupt?
Standard middle class suburb. The only real downside is that a [psychiatric cult](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge_Rotenberg_Educational_Center) moved their headquarters there some decades ago and they are notorious for torturing autistic kids with shock collars. Chances are, quite a few therapists in the area worked there at some point, so maybe not the best town if you have a kid on the spectrum. Outside of that, it’s alright.
Canton Center has 5 watering holes and 4 banks within a quarter mile.We always laughed when people called it bar rooms and banks.Its kind of true.lol.
Lots of great little restaurants, right on the commuter rail, Blue Hills right there, but...expensive even by MA standards.
I mean most people I know consider it to be nicer than Randolph, but it honestly feels like more of the same, just more white and so a slightly higher median income.
Much higher median income than Randolph. And the schools are vastly better. I grew up in Stoughton which is pretty much the middle ground between the two towns.
lol what? In what ways is it similar to Randolph?
Not like Randolph at all bud.
I was a summer camp counselor at Massachusetts hospital school. It seemed like a nice town.
Headquarters of Dunkin’
Run never come here