Compare towns
Melrose vs Wakefield vs Ware
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%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | Melrose | Wakefield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650Highest |
27,793 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Melrose and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$14k 29% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Wakefield 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 |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 26% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ware |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.