Melrose and Newton receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Melrose
Newton
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs72 · Top 18%
Growth
65 · Top 24%
vs52 · Top 46%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs62 · Bottom 24%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs68 · Bottom 31%
Schools
81 · Top 13%
vs94 · Top 1%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
80 · Top 7%
vs73 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Melrose | Newton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,650 | 89,044 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $190,304 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,861 | $97,547 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,331/sq mi | 4,995/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $822,900 | $1,264,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,970 | $2,370 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 70.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 81.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 4.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 97 | 159 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 102.1% | 42.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 53.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 29.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 42.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.92 | 10.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 50.3% | 61.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 63.8% | 71.7% | 2019-20 school 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.
Newton
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Melrose, MA · Newton, MA · How this is calculated: methodology