Medford, MA vs Melrose, MA

Melrose is moderately more affordable than Medford, with a 6.1% lower cost of living index. Medford scores 172 compared to 163 for Melrose, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Medford can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Medford is $2,477/month compared to $1,933/month in Melrose — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Melrose has cheaper rent, Medford actually has lower median home values ($715,500 vs $796,100).

Median household income in Medford is $118,089 compared to $126,854 in Melrose (-6.9%). Melrose offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Medford spend roughly 25.2% 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 Medford.