Compare towns
Canton vs Harvard 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
6,927Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Harvard and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Walpole 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% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below 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 | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Canton 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% |
4.5% 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 | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Harvard | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Canton High | The Bromfield High School | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.