Compare towns
Natick vs Framingham 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%).
Framingham has the most affordable homes ($627k median).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Framingham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
72,399Highest |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Framingham 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Dover 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% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Framingham 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 |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above 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 |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | Framingham High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.