What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the highest household income ($166k).

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Reading	Melrose
People
Population	25,612Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
	Melrose and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA
	Reading and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,320Highest 56% above MA	$7,578Lowest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	3.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Reading 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	#50 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Reading	Melrose
High school in town	Reading Memorial High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.