What stands out worked out from the figures below

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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	Melrose	Burlington
People
Population	29,650Highest	26,274Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA
	Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Melrose and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	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+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1 MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA
	Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 26% above MA	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Melrose	Burlington
High school in town	Melrose High	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.3Lowest
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.