Compare towns
Sherborn vs Hingham vs Stow vs Natick
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 highest household income ($250k).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Hingham | Stow | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
24,283 |
7,165 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Stow 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Stow 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
| Hingham and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Hingham and Sherborn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Stow 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sherborn and Stow 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 | #53 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Hingham | Nashoba | Natick |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.