Compare towns
Canton vs Natick vs Windsor Locks vs Ashland
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).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Natick | Windsor Locks | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
36,873Highest |
12,579Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% 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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$127,539±$11k 58% 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. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton 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. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashland 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Natick | Windsor Locks School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Natick High | Windsor Locks High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6 |
8.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.