Compare towns
Natick vs Maynard vs Cochituate vs Sherborn
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
10,712 |
6,471 |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% 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 |
42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Cochituate 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% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77% MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Maynard 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±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$192,361±$18k 85% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$906,300±$42k 61% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,582±$649Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn 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 |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest 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 |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Cochituate 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Maynard | — | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | Maynard High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.