Compare towns
Wakefield vs 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
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Wakefield | Ogunquit | Melrose | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
1,379Lowest |
29,650Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
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 | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% 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. |
$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 | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above 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. |
$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 | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
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 | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
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 | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
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 | #179 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Melrose | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Melrose High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 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.