Compare towns
Natick vs Douglas vs Upton vs Arlington
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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Natick | Douglas | Upton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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 |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,082±$76 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 | $8,914 49% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
13.6Highest |
| 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.