What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	Burlington	Natick
People
Population	26,274Lowest	36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA
	Burlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA
	Burlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$2,134±$124Lowest 21% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$8,914Highest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Burlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Natick
High school in town	Burlington High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.6Highest
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.