Compare towns
Natick vs Hadley vs Cochituate
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%).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
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 | Hadley | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
5,306Lowest |
6,471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Cochituate 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest 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±$11k 33% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,582±$649 10% below MA |
| Natick and Cochituate 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | 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.