Compare towns
Walpole vs Marblehead 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 most kids (25.1% under 18).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Marblehead | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
20,413Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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±$16k 65% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Marblehead 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±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Marblehead | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Marblehead High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
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.