What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($305k 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	Windsor
People
Population	29,650Highest	29,468Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	43.7±1.9Highest 12% above U.S.
	Windsor and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Melrose and Windsor 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%	20%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Melrose and Windsor 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%	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Windsor 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±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.	$104,725±$8kLowest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S.	$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,970±$149Highest 39% above U.S.	$1,681±$62Lowest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.	$5,351Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.9%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Windsor 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%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#62 of 282 in MA	#117 of 149 in CT
School district	Melrose	Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District
High school in town	Melrose High	Windsor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.2Lowest
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.