| Town | RAAM score | Median price | Schools | Commute | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose, MA Boston North (inner suburb) | 67.3 / 100 | ≈$850K–$960K as of Zillow ≈$843K; Redfin $960K, Jan 2026 | Melrose Public Schools ~top 12–15% of MA districts. | ≈7 mi north of Boston | Scorecard |
| Natick, MA Boston MetroWest | 67.1 / 100 | ≈$950,000 as of Redfin, Feb 2026 | Natick Public Schools ~top 10–12% of MA districts; ~97% graduation rate. | ≈17–18 mi west of Boston | Scorecard |
| Newton, MA Boston MetroWest | 67 / 100 | ≈$1.4M as of Redfin, Nov 2025 (all-home median) | Newton Public Schools rank among the top ~10% of MA districts; ~96% graduation rate. | ≈7 mi west of Boston | Scorecard |
| Needham, MA Boston MetroWest | 62.9 / 100 | ≈$1.4M–$1.7M as of Zillow ZHVI ≈$1.39M, 2025–26 | #1 in Massachusetts (MA DESE 2025 Accountability, 93%); ~98% graduation rate. | ≈10–15 mi southwest of Boston | Scorecard |
| Arlington, MA Boston inner suburb | 62.4 / 100 | ≈$1.1M as of Redfin, late 2025 | Arlington Public Schools ~top 7% of MA districts; ~95% graduation rate. | ≈8 mi northwest of Boston; mean commute ≈32 min | Scorecard |
The RAAM score shown is an equal-weight baseline across all seven factors. Re-weight them to your priorities and the ranking can change completely — that's the point.
Melrose
67.3Compact, walkable, Orange-Line-connected — and the most affordable of the five.
See the scorecardNatick
67.1Walkable downtown, strong schools, and better relative value than its pricier neighbors.
See the scorecardNewton
67The Garden City — 13 villages, top-tier schools, and a premium to match.
See the scorecardNeedham
62.9Ranked #1 in Massachusetts on the MA DESE 2025 accountability report — and priced accordingly.
See the scorecardArlington
62.4Leafy, top-ranked for young families, and minutes from Cambridge — but bus-only for transit.
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A note on the data. Figures are the most recent we could source at publication and are labeled with their vintage. Population and income come from the U.S. Census / American Community Survey; home prices are volatile monthly medians (Redfin / Zillow) and are dated to the month cited. RAAM factor scores on each town scorecard are equal-weight baselines — re-weight them to your own priorities to get a score that is truly yours.