Compare towns
Melrose vs Sutton vs Stoneham vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sutton | Stoneham | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 29,650 |
9,452Lowest |
23,355 |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$4,995Lowest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Malden 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Sutton | Stoneham | Malden |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Sutton High School | Stoneham High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.6 |
10.7Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| 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.