What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($724k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Melrose
People
Population	27,793Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
	Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	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	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
	Wakefield and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,958±$102Lowest 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	$7,578Lowest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.1Lowest 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	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield	Melrose
High school in town	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.