Compare towns
Melrose vs Wakefield vs Woonsocket
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (70.7%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
27,793Lowest |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Melrose 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 66% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 147% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578 143% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Melrose and Woonsocket 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Melrose | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.7Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.