Compare towns
Canton vs Dunstable vs Walpole 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%).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Dunstable | Walpole | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
3,408Lowest |
26,388 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Natick and Canton 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% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Canton 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% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Walpole 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 |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Dunstable and Walpole 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 |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,325±$637Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Canton and Walpole 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable 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% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Canton 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Groton-Dunstable | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Walpole High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
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.