Compare towns
Canton vs Plainfield vs Dedham 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 the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k 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 | Plainfield | Dedham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
616Lowest |
25,237 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Plainfield and Dedham 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%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 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%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Dedham 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% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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 38% above MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above 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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield and Canton 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Dedham | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | — | Dedham High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.