Compare towns
Natick vs Gray vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
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 | Gray | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
8,429Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Gray 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Framingham and Gray 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 72% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
| 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 186% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.5Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.