Botanically speaking, cantaloupe and muskmelon are the same thing. They belong to the same genus species and variety, Cucumis melo var. In the market place, cantaloupe and muskmelon are not the same thing.
Muskmelons are larger melons, have a stronger aroma, softer texture, and sweeter flavor.
They are grown for local markets because they have a shorter shelf life and do not ship well as compared to cantaloupe. Cantaloupes, on the other hand, are heavily netted without deep ribs. The fruit are round and smaller than muskmelon. They are not aromatic and have a firmer flesh. They can be purchased from grocery stores year round.