What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the most kids (28% under 18).

Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).

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	Lynnfield	Melrose
People
Population	13,064Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
	Melrose and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA	$822,900±$20kLowest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,676±$219Highest 52% 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	69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lynnfield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	27.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Melrose and Lynnfield 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	#27 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynnfield	Melrose
High school in town	Lynnfield High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.