Compare towns
Canton vs Walpole vs Windham vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Walpole | Windham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
26,388 |
16,038Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Natick 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 78% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16k 112% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kLowest 72% above U.S. |
| Windham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kLowest 107% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$2,205±$222 56% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,523 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Windham School District | Natick |
| High school in town | Canton High | Walpole High | Windham High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
12.8 |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.