Compare towns
Natick vs Needham vs Canton vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Needham | Canton | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
32,459 |
24,748Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11k 33% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | Needham High | Canton High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.