Malden vs Melrose
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in Melrose, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for one tier of schooling.
Malden is about 9 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Malden works out roughly $2,900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Malden if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Malden numbers →Choose Melrose if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Melrose numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsMelrose ahead on 3 of 8
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | mixed schoolsT4 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 33rd | 85th |
| Student growth | 53rd | 49th |
| Graduation rate | 85.2% | 97.6% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,528 | $16,976 |
| Schools in the district | 6 | 7 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 55 | 56 |
What a home costsMalden ahead on 6 of 8
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $700kT2 | $950kT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $575k | $750k |
| 2BR condo | $425k | $555k |
| 3BR home | $722k | $926k |
| 5+ BR home | $894k | $1.22M |
| 3BR rent | $3,540/mo | $3,473/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $188k | $252k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.8% a year | 5.9% a year |
What you pay the townMalden ahead on 1 of 4
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $11.40T2 | $11.47T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$8,000 | ≈$10,900 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,357 | $3,879 |
| Share of budget on schools | 43% | 39% |
Getting to workMalden ahead on 7 of 8
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 19 minT1 | 28 minT1 |
| MBTA rail | Rapid transit (T) · ~11 min to downtown | Commuter rail · ~16 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 5 mi | 7 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 11 min | 16 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 19 min | 24 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 24 min | 29 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 21 min | 27 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 39 min | 44 min |
Before kindergartenMalden ahead on 3 of 4
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 102 | 22 |
| Child care places | 2,376 | 813 |
| Centers vs family programs | 25 centers | 11 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 330 | 275 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Malden | Melrose | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,263 | 29,817 |
| Energy | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Culture | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 8/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
