Compare towns
Natick vs Upton vs Framingham vs Sherborn
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).
Framingham has the most renters (45.2% rent).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Framingham | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873 |
8,189 |
72,399Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Upton 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% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 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% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6 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±$33k 50% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
| Sherborn and Natick 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 |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 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% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | Blackstone Valley | Framingham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.