What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k 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	Windham
People
Population	29,650Highest	19,188Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S.	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Melrose and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Melrose and Windham 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%	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Melrose and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Melrose and Windham 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.	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#95 of 133 in ME
School district	Melrose	RSU 14
High school in town	Melrose High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.