What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

East Hampton has the most affordable homes ($349k 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	Melrose	East Hampton
People
Population	29,650Highest	12,925Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.6±1.1 12% above U.S.	43.6±3.7 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±3Highest 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+	20.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.8%±2.8Highest 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+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Highest 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	$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$124,577±$11kLowest 54% 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	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.	$349,000±$14kLowest 5% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,393±$150Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$6,681Lowest 114% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.7%±16.4Lowest 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	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#75 of 149 in CT
School district	Melrose	East Hampton School District
High school in town	Melrose High	East Hampton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.3Lowest
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.