Compare towns
Natick vs Hingham vs Melrose 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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Melrose has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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.
| Measure | Natick | Hingham | Melrose | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
24,283Lowest |
29,650 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Melrose 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Melrose 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Hingham | Melrose | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Hingham High | Melrose High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.9 |
12.8 |
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.