Compare towns

Canton vs Woonsocket 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

Canton has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureCantonWoonsocketNatick
People
Population
24,748Lowest
43,521Highest
36,873
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3
10% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below 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%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Canton 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$138,538±$11k
72% above U.S.
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
114% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$821,000±$25kHighest
147% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,134±$124
51% above U.S.
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
110% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$8,914Highest
186% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.1%±1.9
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI #48 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Natick
High school in town Canton High Woonsocket High School Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1
15.2Highest
12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.