Compare towns
Wakefield vs Ware vs Wakefield vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Wakefield | Ware | Wakefield | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
10,048Lowest |
27,793 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Melrose and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
| Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,779Highest 30% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Melrose |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.