What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Enfield
People
Population	29,650Lowest	41,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S.	40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Melrose and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Melrose and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Melrose and Enfield 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%	31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Melrose and Enfield 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.	$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.	$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,574±$83Lowest 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Enfield 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%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#123 of 149 in CT
School district	Melrose	Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District
High school in town	Melrose High	Enfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.5Highest
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.