Compare towns
Natick vs Hatfield vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Hatfield | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
3,325Lowest |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Hatfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Shrewsbury 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA |
| Shrewsbury 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±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$592,300±$20k 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$2,116±$98 20% above MA |
| Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Shrewsbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shrewsbury and Natick 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Hatfield | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | Smith Academy | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
6.1Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.