Compare towns
Natick vs Upton 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 expensive homes ($821k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton | Sutton | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,452 |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Canton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,190±$401 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 |
$8,376 40% 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% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 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 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.6 |
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.