Compare towns
Natick vs Needham vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Shrewsbury has the most affordable homes ($592k median).
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 | Needham | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
32,459Lowest |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Natick and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$139,302±$11k 34% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,923Lowest 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Shrewsbury 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Needham | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | Needham High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.