What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Melrose
People
Population	18,873Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
	Melrose and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Melrose and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA	$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA
	Melrose and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%	3.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	35 minLowest 19% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Melrose
High school in town	Ashland High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.