Compare towns
Walpole vs Woonsocket vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,388 |
43,521Highest |
24,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $687,100±$20k 107% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| 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 173% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Walpole High | Woonsocket High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
15.2Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.