What stands out worked out from the figures below

Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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	Concord	Melrose
People
Population	18,223Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.6±2Highest 19% above MA	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Concord and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Concord and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Concord and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA	$822,900±$20kLowest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,631±$166Highest 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	53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Concord and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	3.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Concord 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	#10 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Concord · Concord-Carlisle	Melrose
High school in town	Concord Carlisle High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	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.