Compare towns
Natick vs Upton vs Arlington vs Framingham
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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (34.5%).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% 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 | Upton | Arlington | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
8,189Lowest |
46,350 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3 4% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Framingham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
76.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Natick 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Upton and Arlington 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$933,800±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Arlington | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | Blackstone Valley | Arlington High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.