Compare towns
Canton vs Hooksett vs Natick vs Melrose
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Natick | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
5,876Lowest |
36,873Highest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Melrose 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% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Melrose 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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 78% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% 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. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% 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. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Melrose 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Natick | Melrose |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Natick High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.