Compare towns
Natick vs Putney vs Framingham vs Melrose
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Putney | Framingham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
2,622Lowest |
72,399Highest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
37.5±1 4% below U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Natick 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Natick 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Natick and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Natick 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #229 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Framingham High School | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.