Compare towns
Canton vs Plainfield vs Walpole
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).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
616Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Walpole 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole 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 |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Plainfield 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Plainfield 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 | — | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.