Compare towns
Framingham vs Reading vs Natick
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).
Reading has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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.
| Measure | Framingham | Reading | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
25,612Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Natick 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Natick and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Natick 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Natick 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Reading | Natick |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Reading Memorial High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.