Melrose Park, PA vs Swarthmore, PA

Melrose Park is moderately more affordable than Swarthmore, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Melrose Park scores 119 compared to 127 for Swarthmore, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Swarthmore can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Melrose Park is $1,661/month compared to $1,493/month in Swarthmore — a 11% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Swarthmore has cheaper rent, Melrose Park actually has lower median home values ($427,400 vs $557,900).

Median household income in Melrose Park is $154,946 compared to $146,992 in Swarthmore (+5.4%). Melrose Park offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Melrose Park spend roughly 12.9% of their income on rent, more than the 12.2% in Swarthmore.