Compare towns
Canton vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Dedham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
9,100Lowest |
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±2.3 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%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 |
1976 12 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 |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | North Middlesex | Dedham | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | North Middlesex Regional | Dedham High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
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.