Compare towns

Natick vs Concord 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k 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.

MeasureNatickConcordCanton
People
Population
36,873Highest
18,223Lowest
24,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+13%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±1.4
8% above MA
47.6±2Highest
19% above MA
42.6±2.3Lowest
7% above MA
Kids under 18
21.2%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Concord and Canton 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%
23.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Concord and Natick 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%
79.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
67.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Concord and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$138,538±$11kLowest
33% above MA
$195,350±$22kHighest
88% above MA
$143,381±$9k
38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$821,000±$25k
46% above MA
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
$710,600±$27kLowest
26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,134±$124Lowest
21% above MA
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
$2,315±$178
31% above MA
Concord 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
$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%
53.2%±10.5Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
Concord and Canton 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%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1969
5 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
5% above MA
32 min
11% above MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
Work from home
25.1%±1.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #48 of 282 in MA #10 of 282 in MA #81 of 282 in MA
School district Natick Concord · Concord-Carlisle Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town Natick High Concord Carlisle High Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
11.4Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.