What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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.

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

Measure	Natick	Douglas
People
Population	36,873Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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±$11kLowest 33% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
	Douglas 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±$25kHighest 46% above MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Natick and Douglas 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	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Natick and Douglas 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%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Douglas
High school in town	Natick High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.