Compare towns
Framingham vs Hampton vs Natick vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Framingham | Hampton | Natick | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
16,426 |
36,873 |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Sherborn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #229 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #48 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Natick | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Winnacunnet High School | Natick High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.