What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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	Northampton
People
Population	36,873Highest	30,962Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA
	Natick and Northampton 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%	16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 49% above MA	$5,680Lowest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Northampton 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	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Natick High	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	14.7Highest
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.