Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Suffield vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
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 | Dedham | Suffield | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
15,702Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
| Canton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Suffield School District | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Suffield High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.