Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Melrose vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Melrose has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Melrose | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
29,650Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% 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 | — | $1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #62 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Melrose | — |
| High school in town | — | Melrose High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.