Compare towns
Melrose vs Middlesex vs Natick vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Middlesex | Natick | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
1,943Lowest |
36,873Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 66% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Natick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| 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±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 143% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Middlesex 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Natick | — |
| High school in town | Melrose High | None in town | Natick High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.