What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k median).

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	Westborough	Melrose
People
Population	21,944Lowest	29,650Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+18%Highest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±1.6Lowest 3% below MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	25.6%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	62%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,944±$12kHighest 37% above MA	$133,953±$14kLowest 29% above MA
	Westborough and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$685,300±$31kLowest 22% above MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,106±$151Highest 20% above MA	$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA
	Westborough and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,983Highest 67% above MA	$7,578Lowest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.9%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Melrose and Westborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	26.5%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Melrose and Westborough 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	#21 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Westborough	Melrose
High school in town	Westborough High	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	12.8
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.