Compare towns
Walpole vs Sutton vs Sharon 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Sutton | Sharon | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,388Highest |
9,452Lowest |
18,574 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.5±1 6% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Walpole 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Sharon 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 |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
| Sharon 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$737,100±$33kHighest 31% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Sharon and Canton 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| Canton and Sharon 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Sharon 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #23 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Sutton | Sharon | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Sutton High School | Sharon High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.6 |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.