What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k 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	Northbridge
People
Population	29,650Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
	Northbridge 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 MA: 19.4%	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge 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%	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Northbridge 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%	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose and Northbridge 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 29% above MA	$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA
	Melrose and Northbridge 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	$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 26% above MA	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Melrose	Northbridge
High school in town	Melrose High	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.8Lowest
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.