Compare towns

Canton vs Wellfleet

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 most kids (22.9% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).

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.

MeasureCantonWellfleet
People
Population
24,748Highest
4,404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Lowest
7% above MA
58.4±4.1Highest
46% above MA
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.4%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
18.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
35.3%±5.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
64.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Canton and Wellfleet 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
$117,938±$27kLowest
13% above MA
Canton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27kLowest
26% above MA
$855,300±$70kHighest
52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$1,563±$597Lowest
11% below MA
Canton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560Highest
9% above MA
$4,862Lowest
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Canton and Wellfleet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.2%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1975Lowest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
23% above MA
35 minLowest
19% above MA
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.7%±7.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Canton and Wellfleet 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 —
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Wellfleet
High school in town Canton High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.