Compare towns
Natick vs Newfields vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
2,023Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Framingham 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 72% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10kLowest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
| Natick and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Framingham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Newfields School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.