Compare towns
Melrose vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham vs Stoneham
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 the highest household income ($134k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Stoneham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
1,379Lowest |
23,355 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | — | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | — | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.