Compare towns
Natick vs Needham vs Upton vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Wayland has the most people working from home (35.1%).
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 | Needham | Upton | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
32,459 |
8,189Lowest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
| Upton and Wayland 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Wayland 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 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±$13k 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Wayland and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$978,400±$36k 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,475±$603 16% below 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Upton 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wayland and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Wayland |
| High school in town | Natick High | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.9 |
11.2 |
10.9Lowest |
| 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.