Compare towns
Canton vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($143k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Springfield | Natick | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
154,749Highest |
36,873 |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.1±1.4 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%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 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% |
20.5%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% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below 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% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Springfield | Natick | Ashland |
| High school in town | Canton High | Springfield Central High | Natick High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.2Lowest |
12.6 |
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.