Compare towns

Walpole vs Fall River vs Canton

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 highest household income ($172k).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasureWalpoleFall RiverCanton
People
Population
26,388
94,082Highest
24,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±1.2
about the MA average
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±2.3Highest
7% above MA
Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Walpole and Canton 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±2Highest
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%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
67.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1
MA: 7.9%
Walpole and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,500±$16kHighest
65% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$143,381±$9k
38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$687,100±$20k
22% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$710,600±$27kHighest
26% above MA
Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,205±$222
25% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,523Highest
42% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$6,560
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
Fall River and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
13 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
15% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
Work from home
28.2%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Walpole 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 #107 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA
School district Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town Walpole High B M C Durfee High Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
11.3Lowest
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.