Compare towns
Melrose vs Stoneham vs Sutton 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%).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Stoneham | Sutton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
23,355 |
9,452Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Sutton 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham 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±$14k 29% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Stoneham | Sutton | Burlington |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Stoneham High | Sutton High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.