Compare towns
Canton vs Hampton vs Wakefield 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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($545k median).
Wakefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Hampton | Wakefield | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
10,101Lowest |
27,793 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 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%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Canton 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% 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. |
$545,300±$63kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$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 | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
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.