What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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.

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

Measure	Natick	Newton
People
Population	36,873Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA
	Natick and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Newton 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%	19.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Lowest 21% above MA	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Newton 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%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Newton
High school in town	Natick High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	10.8Lowest
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.