What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

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	Blackstone	Melrose
People
Population	9,255Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Lowest 8% above MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
	Melrose and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 5% below MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#207 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Melrose
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	12.8Lowest
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.