Compare towns
Natick vs Springfield vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Shrewsbury has the most homeowners (72.2%).
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 | Springfield | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Lowest |
154,749Highest |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.6±1.5 about the MA average |
| Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Shrewsbury 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA |
| Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$592,300±$20k 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,116±$98 20% above MA |
| Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Shrewsbury 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Springfield | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | Natick High | Springfield Central High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.2Lowest |
14.4Highest |
| 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.