Compare towns
Natick vs 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 the shortest commute (31 min average).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
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 | Windham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873Highest |
16,038Lowest |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% 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±$124 51% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,578Lowest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Windham School District | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | Windham High School | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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.