Compare towns
Acton vs Canton vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Natick 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 | Acton | Canton | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Lowest |
24,748 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Acton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Acton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Canton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Natick |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Canton High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.