Compare towns
Melrose vs Woonsocket vs Canton vs Malden
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 expensive homes ($823k median).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket | Canton | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
43,521 |
24,748Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
35.8±1 8% below 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Canton 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Canton 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$100,606±$6k 25% above U.S. |
| Canton and Melrose 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$633,500±$26k 90% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,204±$62 56% above U.S. |
| Canton and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Malden 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #81 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Malden |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Woonsocket High School | Canton High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
15.2 |
13.1 |
16.1Highest |
| 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.