Compare towns
Wakefield vs Windham vs Dedham 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Wakefield | Windham | Dedham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
16,038Lowest |
25,237 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 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 | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,578Lowest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Dedham | Melrose |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Dedham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.