Compare towns
Canton vs Melrose vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
29,650 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Melrose 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Canton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Melrose 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 78% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Melrose | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Canton High | Melrose High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.