Compare towns
Walpole vs Marblehead 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).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Marblehead | Canton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388 |
20,413Lowest |
24,748 |
28,587Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% 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 |
41.1±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Walpole 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest 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% |
71.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
| Milton and Marblehead 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 |
$933,200±$31k 66% above MA |
| Marblehead and Milton 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 |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,523 42% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$9,677Highest 61% 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% |
45.7%±20.9 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest 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 |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% 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% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Marblehead | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Milton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Marblehead High | Canton High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
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.