Compare towns
Melrose vs Reading vs Reading
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%).
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 | Reading | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
25,612Lowest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
| Melrose and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | — | Reading |
| High school in town | Melrose High | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.