What stands out worked out from the figures below

Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).

North Andover has the most affordable homes ($733k 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	North Andover
People
Population	29,650Lowest	31,490Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA	39.6±2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	North Andover 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 MA: 17.9%	17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA
	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 46% above MA	$732,900±$37kLowest 30% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA	$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA
	North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Lowest 26% above MA	$7,767Highest 30% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	53%±9Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	20.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Melrose	North Andover
High school in town	Melrose High	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.