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Natick center, the downtown historic district of Natick, Massachusetts.

Living in Natick, Massachusetts

Natick is a town in Middlesex County, about ten miles west of Boston in the MetroWest region. It was founded in 1651 by missionary John Eliot as the first of his "praying town" settlements and was incorporated as a town in 1781. Lake Cochituate and the Charles River, which runs through the South Natick section, are the town's defining water features.

Natick centerSouth Natick

By James Allen, NMLS 1216446 · Updated

Photo: Marc N. Belanger, Public domain

Natick at a glance

Natick's villages and zip codes

Natick uses ZIP code 01760 town-wide, including the South Natick section.

Natick villages and zip codes
AreaZip codeWhere it is
Natick center01760The downtown core along North Avenue, Main, Central and Summer streets, rebuilt in brick after an 1874 fire and listed as the Natick Center Historic District.
South Natick01760The town's original 1651 settlement area along the Charles River, home to the Eliot Church.

Things to do in Natick, MA

Start with Casey's Diner and Natick Center Historic District, then 3 more below.

  1. Casey's Diner

    A ten-stool diner that has operated in Natick since the 1890s, with its current 1922 Worcester Lunch Car Company structure on South Avenue since 1927. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for steamed hot dogs.

    Year-round

    36 South Ave, Natick, MA 01760

  2. Natick Center Historic District

    The town's 19th-century civic and commercial core, rebuilt in brick Gothic, Italianate and Romanesque styles after an 1874 fire that destroyed the original downtown.

    FreeYear-round

    North Ave, Main, Central and Summer streets, Natick, MA

  3. Natick Mall

    A large regional shopping center in Natick, renovated and expanded in 2007.

    Year-round

    1245 Worcester St, Natick, MA

  4. Morse Institute Library

    The town's public library, a longstanding community resource in Natick center.

    FreeYear-round

    14 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760

  5. Natick Common

    A town green in the center of Natick, near the historic district's civic buildings.

    FreeYear-round

    Natick, MA

More worth a visit

  • Eliot Church, South NatickA historic church tied to John Eliot's original 1651 settlement.
  • The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN)An arts and music venue housed in the historic Central Fire Station.

Around the calendar

  • April
    Boston MarathonThe marathon route runs through Natick between roughly miles 8 and 12 on Patriots' Day, drawing residents and visitors along the course each year.

A little history

John Eliot founded Natick in 1651 as the first and best-documented of his "praying town" settlements for Native Americans.

Shoe manufacturing peaked around 1880, when Natick's 23 operating factories made it the third-largest shoe-producing town in the country.

An 1874 fire destroyed most of Natick's downtown business district, leading to the brick buildings that still define Natick center today.

Parks, trails and outdoors in Natick

Natick's outdoor recreation centers on Lake Cochituate, which the town shares with Wayland and Framingham, and on the Charles River in South Natick.

  • Cochituate State ParkA state park on Middle Pond, one of the three connected ponds making up the 625-acre Lake Cochituate, with boat ramps and a picnic area.
  • Cochituate Rail TrailA paved rail trail running along Lake Cochituate from downtown Natick toward Saxonville in Framingham.
  • Charles River, South NatickThe river runs through the South Natick section, providing frontage for canoeing and fishing.

Where to eat in Natick: restaurants and coffee

1 places in Natick to try, including diner. No one paid to be listed.

Walkability and getting around Natick

Natick center is a walkable brick-lined downtown with sidewalks connecting Town Hall, the library and shops, and South Natick has a smaller walkable core around the Charles River, but much of the town outside these centers, including the area around Natick Mall, is built around driving.

Natick center

13 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760

Check any Natick address

Drive times

  • Boston, about 10 miles25-35 min
  • Logan International Airport, about 22 miles35-45 min

Approximate, without traffic.

By bus or train

The MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line serves Natick Center station downtown and West Natick station off West Central Street. The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority runs local bus service.

Natick property taxes

Natick's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,217 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $11,413, on an average assessed value of $937,795.

Natick's FY2026 tax rates

$12.17per $1,000, residential

  • Residential$12.17 per $1,000
  • Average single-family assessed value$937,795
  • Average single-family tax bill$11,413
  • Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value

Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.

Natick property tax calculator

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Assessed value (100%)
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Taxes a year
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About this much a month
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Estimate at the FY2026 residential rate; the assessor's value sets the bill.

Add it to a full payment estimate

How the residential rate has changed

Fiscal yearResidential rate
FY2022$13.34
FY2023$12.64
FY2024$12.26
FY2025$11.96
FY2026$12.17

Look up a Natick property

Buying a home in Natick

What we check on a Natick purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, smoke & co certificate, pay-as-you-throw.

MassHousing

First-time buyer programs

MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Middlesex County. We check them with you before you shop.

MassHousing home loans
Flood maps

Check the flood zone first

Lake Cochituate, which Natick shares with Wayland and Framingham, and the Charles River through South Natick put nearby low-lying parcels in FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.

FEMA's flood map for Natick
Before closing

Smoke and CO certificate

Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Natick Fire Department before the sale closes. Call 508-647-9550 to schedule.

Natick Fire Department page
Smoke & CO certificate

Massachusetts requires a smoke and CO certificate before closing

Sellers in Massachusetts need a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance certificate from the local fire department before a home sale can close. Natick's Fire Department can be reached to schedule the required inspection.

Pay-as-you-throw

Natick uses a pay-as-you-throw trash system

Trash must go out in approved blue Town of Natick Pay-As-You-Throw bags rather than any bag or bin, which is worth budgeting for when comparing towns.

Natick Trash & Recycling

All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.

James Allen

Thinking about buying in Natick?

We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Natick address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.

Call (860) 398-5268 Text us Email the team

Compare loan optionsOur process

Moving to Natick: utilities, trash and town hall

Who to call in Natick: Eversource for power.

Town Hall offices and contacts

Natick Town Hall is at 13 E Central St, Natick, MA 01760. Main line: 508-647-6400.

Natick, MA FAQ: taxes and town services

What is the property tax rate in Natick, MA?

Natick's FY2026 residential tax rate is $12.17 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.

How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Natick?

Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,868 a year at $12.17 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.

Does Natick have a split tax rate?

No. Natick uses a single rate of $12.17 per $1,000 for all property classes.

What is the average single-family tax bill in Natick?

The average single-family tax bill in Natick was $11,413 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $937,795.

Is trash pickup curbside or pay-as-you-throw in Natick?

Natick uses pay-as-you-throw: trash must go in approved blue Town of Natick bags, collected curbside by the town's own Department of Public Works. Recycling goes in town-provided totes on alternating weeks.

Who supplies electricity and natural gas in Natick?

Eversource provides both electric and natural gas service in Natick.

What ZIP code does Natick use?

Natick uses ZIP code 01760 for the whole town, including the South Natick section.

Is there commuter rail service in Natick?

The MBTA Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line stops at Natick Center station downtown and West Natick station off West Central Street.

Where does the Boston Marathon pass through Natick?

The Boston Marathon route runs through Natick between roughly miles 8 and 12 on Patriots' Day each April.

Towns near Natick

Neighbors of Natick, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.

Sources