Compare towns
Canton vs Mansfield vs Upton 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%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Mansfield | Upton | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
23,931 |
8,189Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield 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 |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Upton and Canton 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 |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Mansfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Mansfield High | Blackstone Valley | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
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.