Compare towns
Boylston vs Canton vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Boylston | Canton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
24,748 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kLowest 36% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47kLowest about the MA average |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Canton High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.