Compare towns
Dedham vs Melrose vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Dedham | Melrose | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
29,650Highest |
15,141Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Melrose and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dedham | Melrose | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Melrose High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.