Compare towns
Melrose vs Dover vs Natick
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Dover | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
2,308Lowest |
36,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
— | $2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Melrose 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | — | Natick |
| High school in town | Melrose High | — | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| 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.