Signals
Melrose
Wakefield
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs63 · Bottom 27%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 35%
vs75 · Bottom 42%
Schools
81 · Top 13%
vs75 · Top 20%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
80 · Top 7%
vs79 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Melrose | Wakefield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,650 | 27,793 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $134,306 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,861 | $67,454 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,331/sq mi | 3,759/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $822,900 | $723,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,970 | $1,958 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 70.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 59.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 4.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 44.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 38.1 min | 35.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.6 | 42.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.92 | 11.29 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 50.3% | 40.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 63.8% | 54.0% | 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.
Wakefield
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Melrose, MA · Wakefield, MA · How this is calculated: methodology