Compare towns
Cochituate vs Natick vs Sutton vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Cochituate | Natick | Sutton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,471Lowest |
36,873Highest |
9,452 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Cochituate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $192,361±$18k 85% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Cochituate and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,582±$649 10% below MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Natick and Cochituate 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 |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Topsfield 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Natick | Sutton | Topsfield |
| High school in town | — | Natick High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
12.6 |
— |
| 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.