Compare towns
Canton vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
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 | Needham | Stoneham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
32,459 |
23,355Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Natick and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$9k 38% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Needham and Canton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Needham | Stoneham | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Needham High | Stoneham High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.