What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Natick	Smithfield
People
Population	36,873Highest	22,233Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Natick and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 186% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Natick	Smithfield
High school in town	Natick High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.