Compare towns
Canton vs Pinehurst vs Natick vs Ashland
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).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Pinehurst | Natick | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
6,845Lowest |
36,873Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
42.6±2 7% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above 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% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst 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% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pinehurst 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 |
$146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Canton 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 |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashland 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 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 | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Natick | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Natick High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | 12.6Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.