Compare towns
Canton vs Merrimac vs Ogunquit 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).
Merrimac has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Natick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Merrimac | Ogunquit | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
6,748 |
1,379Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 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. |
$123,054±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% 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. |
$553,400±$38kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below 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 | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,399 137% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Canton 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Pentucket | — | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | — | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | — | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.