Compare towns
Melrose vs Danvers vs Natick vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Melrose | Danvers | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
28,098 |
36,873Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Natick and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.6 |
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.