Compare towns
Natick vs Sutton vs Cochituate vs Melrose
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Cochituate has the highest household income ($192k).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Sutton | Cochituate | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
9,452 |
6,471Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.8±2.3Highest 15% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Cochituate and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Cochituate and Natick 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,582±$649 10% below MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Natick and Melrose 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.6% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Cochituate and Melrose 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Sutton | — | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | Sutton High School | — | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.