What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k 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	Stoneham
People
Population	36,873Highest	23,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA	42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA
	Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA
	Natick and Stoneham 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	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Stoneham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest MA: 10%	5.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Stoneham
High school in town	Natick High	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.