Compare towns
Natick vs North Windham 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%).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | North Windham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
5,417Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
42±3Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 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+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% 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. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% 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. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% 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. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | 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.