Compare towns
Natick vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (70.7%).
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 | Wakefield | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
27,793Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Natick and Wakefield 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% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Natick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Natick and Framingham 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.