Compare towns
Natick vs Upton vs Cochituate
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 affordable homes ($577k median).
Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
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 | Cochituate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
8,189 |
6,471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
45.8±2.3 15% above MA |
| Upton and Cochituate 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
77%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$192,361±$18kHighest 85% above MA |
| Cochituate and Upton 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 |
$906,300±$42kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,582±$649 10% below MA |
| Natick and Cochituate 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 |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
34.2%±14.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.9%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Natick High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.