Compare towns
Natick vs Salem vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Salem | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
44,795Highest |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
45±1.5Highest 13% above MA |
| Wayland 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 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Salem | Wayland |
| High school in town | Natick High | Salem High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.