What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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	Sturbridge
People
Population	29,650Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1 MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Melrose 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	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 26% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 19% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Melrose	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Melrose High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.