Signals
Melrose
Merrifield
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs60 · Top 42%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs81 · Top 21%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs73 · Bottom 38%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs96 · Top 31%
Economic stability
80 · Top 7%
vs83 · Top 4%
Measured values
| Metric | Melrose | Merrifield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,650 | 20,698 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $136,373 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,861 | $73,653 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,331/sq mi | 7,669/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $822,900 | $660,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,970 | $2,368 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 39.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -3.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 76.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 5.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 82°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 30.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 34.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Melrose
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Merrifield
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Melrose
77
Your Score
74
Area Score
Merrifield
77
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Melrose, MA · Merrifield, VA · How this is calculated: methodology