Compare towns
Wakefield vs Hooksett 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
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Hooksett | Dedham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
15,057Lowest |
25,237 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%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. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% 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. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 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% |
3.3%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% |
80.6%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. |
1988Highest 8 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hooksett School District | Dedham | Melrose |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | Dedham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 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.