Compare towns
Natick vs Windham 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 expensive homes ($821k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Canton has the most people working from home (25.7%).
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 | Windham | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
16,038Lowest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Natick and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Canton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kLowest 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Windham School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Natick High | Windham High School | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.