Compare towns
Natick vs Middlesex vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Middlesex | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,943Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Natick 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 72% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% 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 | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% 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 | $2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Natick and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Middlesex 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 | — | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.