What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has the highest household income ($172k).

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Bedford	Melrose
People
Population	14,727Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Bedford and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Bedford and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA	$822,900±$20kLowest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,578Lowest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Bedford 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	#7 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Melrose
High school in town	Bedford High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.