Compare towns
Melrose 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%).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Melrose | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
36,873Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest 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 |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 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 |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 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 |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Natick and Dedham 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.6 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.