Compare towns
Natick vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Cochituate has the highest household income ($192k).
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 | Lancaster | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
8,606 |
6,471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
| Cochituate 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Cochituate 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,582±$649Lowest 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Natick 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% 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 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Natick | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.