Compare towns
Melrose vs Natick vs Upton
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%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
36,873Highest |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Natick and Melrose 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Natick 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 12% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Natick High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.