Compare towns
Natick vs North Windham 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).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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.
| Measure | Natick | North Windham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
5,417Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
42±3Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Natick and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest 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. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% 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. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below 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. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Natick 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% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as 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% |
20.9%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 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.