Compare towns
Canton vs Dedham vs Nahant 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).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
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 | Nahant | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
25,237 |
3,325Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest 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%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% 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% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest 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±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above 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 |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Natick and Nahant 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 |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs 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 |
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% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Nahant | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Dedham High | None in town | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 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.