Compare towns
Canton vs Sunderland 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).
Sunderland has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
3,641Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% 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% |
9%±3.3Lowest 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest 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% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below 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 |
$458,100±$52kLowest 19% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,672±$151Lowest 5% below 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 |
$5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sunderland 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% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 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 | #220 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Sunderland | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | None in town | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.