Compare towns
Sherborn vs Dedham vs Natick vs Millis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Sherborn | Dedham | Natick | Millis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
25,237 |
36,873Highest |
8,888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
| Sherborn and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$9,344 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #63 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Dedham | Natick | Millis |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Natick High | Millis High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.