What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

Melrose has the most kids (20.2% under 18).

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	Ogunquit	Melrose
People
Population	1,379Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S.	43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S.
Kids under 18	5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	62%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Melrose and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S.	$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S.
	Melrose and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S.	$822,900±$20kLowest 147% above U.S.
	Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,970±$149 39% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S.	$7,578Highest 143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Melrose and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	29.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ogunquit and Melrose 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
School district	—	Melrose
High school in town	—	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.