Compare towns
Natick vs Windham vs Sherborn vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Windham | Sherborn | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
19,188 |
4,427Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sherborn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
82.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 72% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,026,800±$72k 209% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$316 65% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sherborn 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #53 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | RSU 14 | Sherborn | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Natick High | Windham High School | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.