Melrose vs Stoneham
You are paying about $125k more for a 4BR in Melrose, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $125k for 32 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
On tax, look past the rate: Stoneham works out roughly $2,600 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Melrose if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Melrose numbers →Choose Stoneham if you want the lower price.
All Stoneham numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Melrose | Stoneham | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS percentile | 85th | 53rd |
| Niche district rank | 57th of 236 | 80th of 236 |
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $825kT2 |
| 2BR condo | $555k | $480k |
| Commute to Boston | 28 minT1 | 31 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~16 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $11.47T2 | $10.06T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$10,900 | ≈$8,300 |
| 3BR rent | $3,403/mo | $3,230/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
