What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Framingham has the most homeowners (54.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Malden	Framingham
People
Population	65,906Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA	37.5±1Highest 6% below MA
	Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA
	Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA	$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA
	Malden and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,995Lowest 17% below MA	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest MA: 10%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Malden and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#184 of 282 in MA	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Malden	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Malden High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.