Compare towns
Weston vs Needham vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Natick has the most affordable homes ($821k 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 | Weston | Needham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,579Lowest |
32,459 |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Weston and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Weston 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | — | Natick |
| High school in town | Weston High | — | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.