Compare towns
Malden vs Springfield vs Everett vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Springfield | Everett | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906 |
154,749Highest |
50,045 |
29,650Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Malden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| 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 17% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #184 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Springfield | Everett | Melrose |
| High school in town | Malden High | Springfield Central High | Everett High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
12.2 |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.