Compare towns
Canton vs Walpole vs Windsor Locks 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 expensive homes ($711k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Walpole | Windsor Locks | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
26,388Highest |
12,579Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Canton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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 78% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| 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±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Windsor Locks School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Walpole High | Windsor Locks High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.3 |
8.9Lowest |
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.