Compare towns
Berlin vs Melrose vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($617k median).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Berlin | Melrose | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
29,650Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 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+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 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 | $616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Berlin and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Melrose | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | None in town | Melrose High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.