Compare towns
Melrose vs Reading vs Burlington
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%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
25,612Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Reading and Burlington 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$740,600±$35kLowest 32% 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±$273 13% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Reading | Burlington |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Reading Memorial High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.