Compare towns
Melrose vs Plainfield 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 most expensive homes ($823k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
15,141Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% 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% |
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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Plainfield School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Plainfield High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.