Compare towns
Natick vs Easthampton vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Easthampton | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
16,086Lowest |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Easthampton 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% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Shrewsbury 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA |
| Shrewsbury 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 |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$592,300±$20k 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,116±$98 20% above MA |
| Natick and Shrewsbury 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 |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Easthampton and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shrewsbury and Natick 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Easthampton | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | Easthampton High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.8Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.