Compare towns
Melrose vs Dover vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Stoneham 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.
| Measure | Melrose | Dover | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
5,930Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.