MetricMelrose, MASaugus, MA
Population29,65028,773
Median Household Income$133,953$101,539
Median Rent$1,970/mo$2,241/mo
Median Home Value$822,900$603,400
Cost of Living (US = 100)108108
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income48%50%
Poverty Rate3.8%6%
Unemployment Rate3.8%4.6% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k154169
Property Crime Rate /100k5551,273
Median AQI3840
Good AQI Days /yr299296
Summer Highs81°F81°F
Winter Lows21°F21°F
Snowfall64 in/yr64 in/yr
Avg Commute34.5 min29.6 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating3.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher13.913.9
College Degree Rate62%31.4%
Foreign-Born %17.6%18.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.7%+1.4%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.