Compare towns
Canton vs Ogunquit vs Ashland 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 the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Ashland | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,379Lowest |
18,873 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
— | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #42 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Ashland | Melrose |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Ashland High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 14.0Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.