Compare towns
Melrose vs Stoneham vs Upton vs Wakefield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Upton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
23,355 |
8,189Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Upton and Melrose 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%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stoneham 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Upton and Wakefield 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.