Compare towns
Canton vs Natick vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748Lowest |
36,873 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% 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 | $6,560 9% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Natick | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Canton High | Natick High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.