What stands out worked out from the figures below

Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Plainfield
People
Population	29,650Highest	15,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Melrose and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Melrose and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield and Melrose 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 66% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Melrose	Plainfield School District
High school in town	Melrose High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.