Compare towns
Canton vs Acton vs Natick vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Natick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Canton | Acton | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
24,155Lowest |
36,873Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±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+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% 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 | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% 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 | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% 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 | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Acton-Boxborough | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Canton High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.