Malden, MA vs Melrose, MA

Malden is moderately more affordable than Melrose, with a 7% lower cost of living index. Malden scores 151 compared to 163 for Melrose, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Melrose can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Malden is $2,066/month compared to $1,933/month in Melrose — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Melrose has cheaper rent, Malden actually has lower median home values ($607,500 vs $796,100).

Median household income in Malden is $95,298 compared to $126,854 in Melrose (-24.9%). While Melrose is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Malden spend roughly 26% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Melrose.

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