Compare towns
Natick vs Oakham vs Windsor vs Sherborn
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%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Oakham | Windsor | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,639 |
1,065Lowest |
4,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Oakham 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 33% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | — | — | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Quabbin | — | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.