Compare towns
Framingham vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Waltham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
64,902 |
36,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1 6% below MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$120,216±$7k 16% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
| Natick and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$748,700±$27k 33% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Waltham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 15% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Waltham 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% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Waltham 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 | #217 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Waltham | Natick |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Waltham Sr High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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.