What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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	Hampton
People
Population	36,873Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Natick and Hampton 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.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 186% above U.S.	$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Natick and Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Natick	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Natick High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.