Compare towns
Natick vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Arlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
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 | Marblehead | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
20,413Lowest |
46,350Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Marblehead and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Marblehead and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | 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.