Compare towns
Wakefield vs Wellfleet vs Dedham vs Melrose
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).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Wellfleet | Dedham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
4,404Lowest |
25,237 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
14.4%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 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±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$117,938±$27kLowest 13% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| 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 29% above MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,563±$597Lowest 11% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| 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 30% above MA |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 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% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Wellfleet | 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 |
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.