Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Windsor Locks 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 population (median age 44.6).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
12,579Lowest |
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±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%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. |
1961 19 yrs 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. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Windsor Locks School District | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Windsor Locks High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.