Compare towns
Natick vs Newton vs Ware
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%).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Newton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
89,044Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Natick and Ware 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%±1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
81.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Newton | Ware |
| High school in town | Natick High | Newton North High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.