Compare towns
Natick vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Needham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
32,459 |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$11k 33% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
| Needham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Needham | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | Needham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
11.9Lowest |
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.