Compare towns
Melrose vs Northbridge vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Northbridge | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
16,458Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest 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% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 29% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Northbridge | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Northbridge High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.