What stands out worked out from the figures below

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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	Middlesex
People
Population	29,650Highest	1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S.
	Middlesex and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex 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.	$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S.
	Melrose and Middlesex 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.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Middlesex 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%	3.8% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Melrose and Middlesex 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	—
School district	Melrose	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	Melrose High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
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.