Compare towns

Canton vs Natick vs Windham

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 people working from home (25.7%).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).

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.

MeasureCantonNatickWindham
People
Population
24,748
36,873Highest
16,038Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
43.3±1.4Highest
11% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Natick and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Natick and Canton 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%
70.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
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±$9k
78% above U.S.
$138,538±$11kLowest
72% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27kLowest
114% above U.S.
$821,000±$25kHighest
147% above U.S.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178
64% above U.S.
$2,134±$124Lowest
51% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560Lowest
110% above U.S.
$8,914
186% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Canton and Windham 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%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.1%±1.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
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 #48 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Natick Windham School District
High school in town Canton High Natick High Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
12.6Lowest
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.