Compare towns
Wakefield vs Killingly 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
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Killingly | Melrose | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
17,867Lowest |
29,650Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149 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 | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest 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 | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 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 | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #62 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Melrose | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Melrose High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.