Compare towns
Natick vs Beverly vs Sherborn 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 oldest population (median age 43.3).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Natick | Beverly | Sherborn | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
42,665Highest |
4,427Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%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 |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
| Natick and Sherborn 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% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Canton 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% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest 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% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Sherborn and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
48%±26.3 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Beverly | Sherborn | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Beverly High | None in town | 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 | 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.