Compare towns
Hatfield vs Natick vs Sherborn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
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 | Hatfield | Natick | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
36,873Highest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Hatfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #198 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Natick | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Natick High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.