Compare towns
Melrose vs Stoneham vs Windsor Locks vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Malden has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Windsor Locks | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
23,355 |
12,579Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
35.8±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,606±$6k 25% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$633,500±$26k 90% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,204±$62Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Malden and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Stoneham | Windsor Locks School District | Malden |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Stoneham High | Windsor Locks High School | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.7 |
8.9Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.