Compare towns
Natick vs Worcester vs Canton vs Sherborn
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 oldest population (median age 43.3).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Worcester | Canton | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
207,055Highest |
24,748 |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+13% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Natick and Sherborn 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%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,315±$178 31% above MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | South High Community | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
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| 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.