Compare towns
Melrose vs Woonsocket vs Stoneham
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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Stoneham has the most homeowners (71%).
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 | Woonsocket | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
43,521Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Stoneham 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Stoneham 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Stoneham 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Melrose High | Woonsocket High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
15.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.