Compare towns
Canton vs Walpole vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
26,388 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Canton and Walpole 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Walpole 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 MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below 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 |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Canton High | Walpole High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.