Compare towns
Melrose vs Needham vs Needham vs Burlington
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 renters (32.8% rent).
Burlington has the most affordable homes ($741k 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.
| Measure | Melrose | Needham | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
26,274Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20k 46% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | — | Needham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Melrose High | — | Needham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.