Compare towns
Natick vs Halifax vs Arlington
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%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Halifax | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
7,748Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Natick and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Halifax 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% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
| Arlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,804±$375Lowest about the MA average |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Natick and Arlington 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 |
$6,840Lowest 14% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Halifax and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Halifax | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| 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.