Compare towns
Natick vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most homeowners (82.4%).
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 | Reading | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
25,612Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Reading 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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±$11k 33% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above 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 |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
| Natick and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 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 |
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.