What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Framingham has the most affordable homes ($627k 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	Framingham
People
Population	36,873Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest 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%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Highest 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±$11kHighest 33% above MA	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA	$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA
	Natick and Framingham 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	$6,884Lowest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 282 in MA	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Natick High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	12.7Highest
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.