Compare towns
Walpole vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Walpole | Lancaster | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
8,606Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Lancaster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Canton 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% 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±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Lancaster and Canton 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Nashoba | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | None in town | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.