Compare towns
Natick vs Arlington vs Cochituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Arlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
Cochituate has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Natick | Arlington | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
46,350Highest |
6,471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
| Cochituate and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cochituate and Natick 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% |
19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Cochituate 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% MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$906,300±$42k 61% above MA |
| Arlington and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$1,582±$649Lowest 10% below 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 |
$9,604 60% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Arlington 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 | #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 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.