Signals
Melrose
Stoneham
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs65 · Top 32%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs65 · Bottom 27%
Schools
81 · Top 13%
vs79 · Top 15%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
80 · Top 7%
vs77 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | Melrose | Stoneham | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,650 | 23,355 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $113,964 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,861 | $62,866 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,331/sq mi | 3,882/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $822,900 | $671,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,970 | $2,035 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 71.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 55.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 5.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 31.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 42.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 5 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.92 | 11.33 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 50.3% | 43.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 63.8% | 57.9% | 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.
Stoneham
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Melrose, MA · Stoneham, MA · How this is calculated: methodology