Compare towns
Melrose vs Foxborough 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 the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Foxborough has the most affordable homes ($606k median).
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 | Foxborough | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
18,615Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Melrose and Foxborough 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% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough 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% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham 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 29% above MA |
$115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Melrose and Foxborough 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 |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Foxborough 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% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Foxborough | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Foxborough High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.3 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.