Compare towns
Natick vs Ogunquit vs Needham vs Cochituate
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 the most renters (31.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Cochituate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Ogunquit | Needham | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,379Lowest |
32,459 |
6,471 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
77% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Natick 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$192,361±$18k 138% above U.S. |
| Needham and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kLowest 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$906,300±$42k 172% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
— | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,582±$649Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Needham and Natick 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.9%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Cochituate 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Natick | — | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.