Compare towns
Canton vs Erving vs Northfield vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Erving | Northfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,703Lowest |
2,872 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.4% MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Canton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$103,375±$10k about the MA average |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$375,800±$31k 33% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,594 23% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
81.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | — | #231 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Erving | Pioneer Valley | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.