Compare towns

Natick vs Hampton vs Canton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasureNatickHamptonCanton
People
Population
36,873Highest
16,426Lowest
24,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±1.4
11% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Natick and Canton 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
72% above U.S.
$95,233±$9kLowest
18% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
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
147% above U.S.
$550,200±$39kLowest
65% above U.S.
$710,600±$27k
114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,134±$124
51% above U.S.
$1,628±$94Lowest
15% above U.S.
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
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
186% above U.S.
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$6,560Lowest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton 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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
25.1%±1.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #31 of 120 in NH #81 of 282 in MA
School district Natick Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town Natick High Winnacunnet High School Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.6
10.1Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.