Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Hanover | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
14,845Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 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 |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,845±$341Lowest 5% 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 | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
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.