Compare towns
Reading vs Melrose vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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.
| Measure | Reading | Melrose | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,612Lowest |
29,650Highest |
25,612Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 9% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% 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 |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,578Lowest 26% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #50 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 | 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.