Compare towns
Melrose vs Stow 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%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Wakefield has the shortest commute (33 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 | Stow | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
7,165Lowest |
27,793 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose and Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Melrose High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.