Compare towns
Natick vs Wrentham 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 the most expensive homes ($821k median).
Wrentham has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Wrentham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
12,297Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.8±3.2Highest 17% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Wrentham 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Lowest 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wrentham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Framingham and Wrentham 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 |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA |
| Wrentham and Natick 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 |
$654,900±$26k 17% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below 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 |
$7,373 23% above MA |
$6,884Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
10.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | King Philip · Wrentham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Natick High | King Philip Regional High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.