Compare towns
Natick vs Oakham vs Windsor 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%).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Oakham | Windsor | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,639 |
1,065Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Oakham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Melrose 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 MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
$115,563±$10k 11% 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 |
$420,100±$20k 25% below MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% below 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±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
— | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| 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 49% above MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | Quabbin | — | 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 | 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.