What stands out worked out from the figures below

Shrewsbury has the most affordable homes ($592k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Shrewsbury	Natick
People
Population	38,876Highest	36,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.6±1.5Lowest about the MA average	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA
	Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$139,302±$11kHighest 34% above MA	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA
	Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$592,300±$20kLowest 5% above MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$98Lowest 20% above MA	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
	Natick and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,923Lowest 16% above MA	$8,914Highest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±6.9Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Shrewsbury and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Shrewsbury and Natick 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	#30 of 282 in MA	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Shrewsbury	Natick
High school in town	Shrewsbury High School	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.4Highest	12.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.