Compare towns
Canton vs Chilmark vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Canton | Chilmark | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,578Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest 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 | $143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Walpole and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
| Chilmark and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Up-Island Regional | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.