What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Natick	Wayland
People
Population	36,873Highest	13,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA	45±1.5Highest 13% above MA
	Wayland 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%	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wayland 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%	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Wayland 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	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA
	Natick and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wayland 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%	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 282 in MA	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Wayland
High school in town	Natick High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	10.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.