Compare towns
Canton vs Needham vs Wakefield vs Melrose
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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Needham | Wakefield | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
32,459Highest |
27,793 |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$9k 38% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Melrose 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Melrose |
| High school in town | Canton High | Needham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.