Compare towns
Natick vs Lancaster vs Wayland
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).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
8,606Lowest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45±1.5Highest 13% above MA |
| Wayland 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% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland 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% |
18.7%±2.1Lowest 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% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Wayland 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 |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% 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%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Wayland 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wayland 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 | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Nashoba | Wayland |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.9Lowest |
| 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.