Compare towns
Natick vs Berlin vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Natick | Berlin | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
3,378Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 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+ | 20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 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 | $138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% 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 | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% 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 | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
| Berlin and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Berlin 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Berlin-Boylston | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | None in town | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.