Compare towns
Canton vs Danvers vs Salem vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k 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 | Danvers | Salem | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
28,098 |
44,795Highest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Danvers and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Natick 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Canton and Natick 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 |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% 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 | $6,560 9% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Canton and Natick 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Salem | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Salem High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.