Compare towns
Melrose vs Ogunquit vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Melrose has the highest household income ($134k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Malden has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Melrose | Ogunquit | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,650 |
1,379Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
35.8±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,953±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$100,606±$6kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$633,500±$26kLowest 90% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,970±$149Lowest 39% above U.S. |
— | $2,204±$62Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Malden and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA | — | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Melrose | — | Malden |
| High school in town | Melrose High | — | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.