Compare towns
Natick vs Ogunquit vs Needham 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 renters (31.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,379Lowest |
32,459 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kLowest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Lowest 51% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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 |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 |
| School district | Natick | — | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Needham High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
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.