Compare towns
Natick vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield 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 the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($724k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Wakefield | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
1,379Lowest |
27,793 |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Natick and Wakefield 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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. |
— | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% 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%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than 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 |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.