Compare towns
Natick vs Middlesex vs Framingham 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).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Middlesex | Framingham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
1,943Lowest |
72,399Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Framingham 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% 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. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #229 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Framingham High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.