Compare towns
Natick vs Sturbridge 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 expensive homes ($821k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Sturbridge | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
9,960Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
| 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 46% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
| 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 49% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Sturbridge 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
7.7Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.