Compare towns
Framingham vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Newfields | Natick | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
2,023Lowest |
36,873 |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%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. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Sherborn 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Framingham 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 33% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kLowest 89% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% 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 | $6,884Lowest 121% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Framingham and Sherborn 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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% |
25.5%±3.7 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | Natick | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | None in town | Natick High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.