Compare towns
Canton vs Sharon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sharon has the highest household income ($192k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Sharon | Dedham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
18,574Lowest |
25,237 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Natick 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% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sharon and Canton 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% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Sharon 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 |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,310±$345 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Canton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%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 |
1970 6 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 |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon 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 | #23 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Sharon | — | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Sharon High | — | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— | 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.