Compare towns
Burlington vs Hooksett vs Stoneham vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Burlington | Hooksett | Stoneham | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
15,057Lowest |
23,355 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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 | #83 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hooksett School District | Stoneham | Melrose |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | Stoneham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.