What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Natick	Arlington
People
Population	36,873Lowest	46,350Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1 MA: 7.9%	5%±0.8 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA	$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA
	Arlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA	$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA
	Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA	$9,604Highest 60% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8%	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 282 in MA	#29 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Arlington
High school in town	Natick High	Arlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.