Compare towns
Natick vs Oxford vs Suffield
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 expensive homes ($821k median).
Oxford has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Oxford | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
12,991Lowest |
15,702 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.2±5.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Natick 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% |
22.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oxford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$128,953±$23k 60% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Natick and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$472,400±$20k 42% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,415±$87Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$6,442Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #78 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Natick | Oxford School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | Natick High | Oxford High School | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.