What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k 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	Hadley
People
Population	36,873Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%	61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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	$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA
	Natick and Hadley 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	$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 49% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Natick and Hadley 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Hadley
High school in town	Natick High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	7.3Lowest
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.