Compare towns
Melrose vs Woonsocket 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Woonsocket | Natick | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
43,521Highest |
36,873 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+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. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 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. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Natick | Dedham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Woonsocket High School | Natick High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
15.2Highest |
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.