Compare towns
Natick vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Hardwick | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
2,684Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Quabbin | 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.