Compare towns
Natick vs Dover vs Canton vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Dover | Canton | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
5,930Lowest |
24,748 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Dover and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Canton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Canton High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.