Compare towns
Walpole vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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.
| Measure | Walpole | Salem | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
44,795Highest |
24,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Canton and Salem 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% 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 |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Salem | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Salem High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
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.