Compare towns
Natick vs Chilmark vs Framingham vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Framingham has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Chilmark | Framingham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
1,578Lowest |
72,399Highest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 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+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Chilmark 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±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
| Chilmark and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Chilmark 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 | — | #229 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Up-Island Regional | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Framingham High School | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.