Compare towns
Melrose vs Plainfield vs Canton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Melrose | Plainfield | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
15,141Lowest |
24,748 |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 143% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #81 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Plainfield School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Plainfield High School | Canton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.