Compare towns
Melrose vs Gorham vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($461k median).
North Andover has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Gorham | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
18,300Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Andover and Gorham 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest 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% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and North Andover 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 66% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose 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. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 143% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,767Highest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Gorham Public Schools | North Andover |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Gorham High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.