Compare towns
Melrose vs Sturbridge vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Sturbridge | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
9,960Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| Canton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
7.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.