What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k median).

Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).

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	East Hampton	Melrose
People
Population	12,925Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±3.7 12% above U.S.	43.6±1.1 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	East Hampton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	East Hampton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	East Hampton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,577±$11kLowest 54% above U.S.	$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Melrose and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S.	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,681Lowest 114% above U.S.	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and East Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#75 of 149 in CT	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	East Hampton School District	Melrose
High school in town	East Hampton High School	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.