Compare towns
Natick vs Ogunquit vs Wayland vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
Shrewsbury has the most affordable homes ($592k 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 | Ogunquit | Wayland | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
1,379Lowest |
13,914 |
38,876Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±1.5 16% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Wayland and Shrewsbury 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% |
18.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Shrewsbury 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. |
$224,000±$28kHighest 177% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36kHighest 194% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20kLowest 78% above U.S. |
| Wayland and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
— | $1,475±$603Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,116±$98 50% above U.S. |
| Natick and Shrewsbury 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. |
$6,923 122% 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% |
42.8%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shrewsbury and Wayland 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Wayland 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 | — | #18 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Wayland | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Wayland High School | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 10.9Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.