Compare towns
Melrose vs Windsor Locks 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 people working from home (29.6%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Natick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Windsor Locks | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
12,579Lowest |
36,873Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% 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. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%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. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Windsor Locks School District | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Windsor Locks High School | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.6 |
10.4 |
| 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.