What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Milton has the highest household income ($189k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Natick	Milton
People
Population	36,873Highest	28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Natick and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA	$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA	$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA	$9,677Highest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Milton 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.7%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Milton and Natick 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	#55 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Milton
High school in town	Natick High	Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.