Compare towns
Natick vs Worcester 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 the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Worcester | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 36,873 |
207,055Highest |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Natick | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Melrose |
| High school in town | Natick High | South High Community | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.