Compare towns
Melrose vs Middlesex vs Burlington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Middlesex | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
1,943Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burlington and Melrose 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% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest 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±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Burlington 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burlington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest 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 | — | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Burlington |
| High school in town | Melrose High | None in town | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.