Burlington, MA vs Malden, MA

Malden is moderately more affordable than Burlington, with a 14.6% lower cost of living index. Burlington scores 173 compared to 151 for Malden, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burlington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $2,597/month compared to $2,066/month in Malden — a 26% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Malden is more affordable at $607,500 median vs $679,400.

Median household income in Burlington is $142,207 compared to $95,298 in Malden (+49.2%). While Burlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, less than the 26% in Malden.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 51.9°F). Malden receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 42.6" in Burlington.