What stands out worked out from the figures below

Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Acton	Natick
People
Population	24,155Lowest	36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA
	Acton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Acton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA
	Acton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
	Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
	Natick and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Acton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#13 of 282 in MA	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Natick
High school in town	Acton-Boxborough Regional High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.