What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k 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	Gorham
People
Population	29,650Highest	18,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S.	39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Melrose 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%	17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Melrose and Gorham 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%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Melrose and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Melrose	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Melrose High	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	12.9Highest
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.