Compare towns
Weston vs Upton vs Natick vs Waltham
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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Waltham has the most renters (50.3% 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 | Weston | Upton | Natick | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,579 |
8,189Lowest |
36,873 |
64,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Upton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Weston and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$748,700±$27k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Upton 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% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Weston 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Natick | Waltham |
| High school in town | Weston High | Blackstone Valley | Natick High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.2 |
12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.