Compare towns
Canton vs Natick vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Natick | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
36,873Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Rowley 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 38% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Natick | Triton |
| High school in town | Canton High | Natick High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.