Compare towns
Wakefield vs Reading vs Melrose vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Reading | Melrose | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
25,612 |
29,650Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 29% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Melrose and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 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 |
MA 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.