Compare towns
Framingham vs Reading vs Natick
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 |
699Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Natick and Framingham 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Natick and Reading 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Natick |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | None in town | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.