Compare towns
Natick vs Putney vs Framingham vs Sherborn
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).
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 | Putney | Framingham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
2,622Lowest |
72,399Highest |
4,427 |
| 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% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
37.5±1 4% below U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Natick and Sherborn 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%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3%Highest 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% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Sherborn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
48%±26.3 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 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 34% 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% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #229 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Framingham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
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| 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.