Compare towns
Natick vs Windham vs Wayland
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).
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.
| Measure | Natick | Windham | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
19,188 |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±1.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick and Windham 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. |
$224,000±$28kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36kHighest 194% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,475±$603 4% above U.S. |
| Natick and Wayland 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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | RSU 14 | Wayland |
| High school in town | Natick High | Windham High School | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
12.1 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.