Compare towns
Natick vs Chilmark vs Canton vs Arlington
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Chilmark | Canton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
1,578Lowest |
24,748 |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Chilmark and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA |
| Chilmark 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Chilmark 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Up-Island Regional | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Canton High | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.1 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.