Compare towns
Melrose vs Ogunquit vs Natick vs Dedham
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 renters (32.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Natick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
1,379Lowest |
36,873Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| 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±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
— | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Natick and Dedham 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #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 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.