Compare towns
Natick vs Dedham vs Cochituate vs Dover
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%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Dedham | Cochituate | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
25,237 |
6,471 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Cochituate and Dover 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Cochituate 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$192,361±$18k 85% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$906,300±$42k 61% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,582±$649Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Natick 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.6% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Dover 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Dedham | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | Dedham High | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.