Compare towns
Wakefield vs Killingly vs Melrose vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
North Andover has the most kids (21.2% 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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Killingly | Melrose | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
17,867Lowest |
29,650 |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.6±2 about the U.S. average |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$732,900±$37k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
$7,767 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #62 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Melrose | North Andover |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Melrose High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8 |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.