Compare towns
Natick vs Sherborn vs Sutton 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 most renters (31.8% rent).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
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 | Sherborn | Sutton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
4,427Lowest |
9,452 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Sutton 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% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
| Sherborn 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Sherborn 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Sherborn | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Sutton High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
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.