Compare towns
Framingham vs Natick vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Natick | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
36,873 |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
45±1.5Highest 13% above MA |
| Wayland and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
| Natick and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #229 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Natick | Wayland |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Natick High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.6 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.