Compare towns
Natick vs Sutton 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
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Sutton | Canton | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
9,452Lowest |
24,748 |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Sutton and Melrose 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Melrose 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Sutton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% 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 |
$6,763 13% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Canton and Melrose 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%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 |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Canton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | Sutton High School | Canton High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.6Lowest |
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.