Compare towns
Canton vs Plainfield vs Wakefield
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%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Wakefield has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
616Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Plainfield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 38% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.