Compare towns
Walpole vs Hingham vs Canton vs Northborough
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 kids (25.1% under 18).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Northborough has the most affordable homes ($620k median).
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 | Hingham | Canton | Northborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
24,283 |
24,748 |
15,750Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
45±3 13% above MA |
| Hingham and Northborough 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$153,199±$19k 47% above MA |
| Hingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,919±$269Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$7,983 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±16.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Walpole 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #35 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Hingham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Hingham High | Canton High | Algonquin Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.9 |
13.1Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.