What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somers has the most affordable homes ($396k 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	Somers
People
Population	29,650Highest	10,308Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S.	43.1±2.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Melrose and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Somers 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%	19.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Melrose and Somers 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%	37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Melrose and Somers 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.	$124,705±$15kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Melrose and Somers 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.	$395,800±$21kLowest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,184±$346Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somers and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#66 of 149 in CT
School district	Melrose	Somers School District
High school in town	Melrose High	Somers High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.7Lowest
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.