Compare towns
Natick vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
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 | Worcester | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
| Natick and Arlington 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Arlington 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
| Arlington 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±$25k 46% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Natick and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
61.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Arlington |
| High school in town | Natick High | Springfield Central High | South High Community | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.