Compare towns
Arlington vs Hooksett vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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.
| Measure | Arlington | Hooksett | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,350Highest |
15,057Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $150,701±$5kHighest 87% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $933,800±$23kHighest 181% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,082±$76 47% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,604Highest 208% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Arlington | Hooksett School District | Natick |
| High school in town | Arlington High | None in town | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.