Compare towns
Maynard vs Melrose vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Maynard | Melrose | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
29,650Highest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Maynard and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Melrose | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Melrose High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.