Compare towns
Canton vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Ashland
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%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($612k 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 | Ogunquit | Wakefield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% 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. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% 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% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.