Compare towns
Malden vs Exeter vs Everett vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Melrose has the most people working from home (29.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Malden | Exeter | Everett | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906Highest |
16,151Lowest |
50,045 |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 8% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995 60% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #184 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Everett | Melrose |
| High school in town | Malden High | Exeter High School | Everett High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.