Compare towns
Canton vs Melrose vs Upton
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%).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Melrose | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
29,650Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Melrose 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% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Melrose 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose 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±$9k 38% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Canton 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 |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Melrose | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Melrose High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.