Compare towns
Canton vs Hingham 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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Hingham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
24,283Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
| Hingham and Walpole 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
| Hingham and Canton 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% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Walpole 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hingham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Canton High | Hingham High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.9 |
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.