Compare towns
Natick vs Maynard vs Cochituate vs Framingham
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%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% 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 | Maynard | Cochituate | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
10,712 |
6,471Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Cochituate and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Cochituate and Framingham 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Cochituate 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,582±$649Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Natick and Framingham 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Maynard | — | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | Maynard High | — | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
9.7Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.