Compare towns
North Andover vs Canton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Wakefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | North Andover | Canton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,490Highest |
24,748Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Canton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Canton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37kHighest 30% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223 26% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Canton and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767 30% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Andover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Wakefield 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 | #98 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | North Andover High | Canton High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
13.1 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.