Compare towns

Natick vs Beverly vs Canton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureNatickBeverlyCanton
People
Population
36,873
42,665Highest
24,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
MA: +7.4%
+8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±1.4Highest
8% above MA
39±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±2.3
7% 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
21.2%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
18.5%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3Highest
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+
20.4%±1.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Natick and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
67.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1
MA: 7.9%
11.3%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$138,538±$11k
33% above MA
$106,044±$7kLowest
about the MA average
$143,381±$9kHighest
38% 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
$821,000±$25kHighest
46% above MA
$650,300±$13kLowest
16% above MA
$710,600±$27k
26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,134±$124
21% above MA
$1,771±$106Lowest
about the MA average
$2,315±$178Highest
31% 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
$8,914Highest
49% above MA
$6,836
14% above MA
$6,560Lowest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±6.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.5%±7.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
Beverly and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%
MA: 10%
9.4%Highest
MA: 10%
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%
MA: 62.5%
60.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
5% above MA
30 minLowest
3% above MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
Work from home
25.1%±1.9
MA: 18.6%
22.3%±2.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3Highest
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 #48 of 282 in MA #144 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA
School district Natick Beverly Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town Natick High Beverly High Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
12.2Lowest
13.1Highest
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.