Compare towns
Melrose vs Ware vs North Andover
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 people working from home (29.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
North Andover has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Ware | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
10,048Lowest |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| North Andover 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$140,670±$9kHighest 35% above MA |
| North Andover 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 12% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Melrose 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,767Highest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Andover 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | Ware | North Andover |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.1Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.