Compare towns
Walpole vs Dover vs Canton vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Milton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Walpole | Dover | Canton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
5,930Lowest |
24,748 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Milton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Dover and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,677 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Milton 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Canton High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.