Compare towns
Canton vs Newfields vs Wakefield vs Melrose
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Newfields | Wakefield | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
2,023Lowest |
27,793 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Melrose 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 78% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Newfields School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Melrose |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.