The Town FilesMelrose, Massachusetts
City in Middlesex County · population 29,817 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $822,900
- Household income
- $133,953
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 43.6
Melrose is a city of 29,817 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $822,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Massachusetts towns, better transit than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 95% of Massachusetts towns.
How Melrose ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Melrose is worth $822,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $133,953, which is more affordable than 20% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,970 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melrose | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $822,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,970 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Melrose
| People | Melrose | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.6% | — |
| Work from home | 29.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Melrose
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 50.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 3.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Melrose itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Melrose
8 public schools with 3,892 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose High | 9-12 | 959 | 12.3 |
| Melrose Middle | 6-8 | 910 | 14.2 |
| Lincoln | K-5 | 412 | 13.3 |
| Roosevelt | K-5 | 403 | 16.8 |
| Winthrop | K-5 | 401 | 14.9 |
| Herbert Clark Hoover | K-5 | 283 | 12.3 |
| Horace Mann | K-5 | 266 | 17.7 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 258 | 14.3 |
Towns near Melrose
- Malden, MA1.8 mi · 66,263 people · home $633,500
- Stoneham, MA2.3 mi · 23,244 people · home $671,900
- Saugus, MA2.5 mi · 28,619 people · home $603,400
- Wakefield, MA3.4 mi · 27,090 people · home $723,500
- Medford, MA3.4 mi · 59,659 people · home $755,500
- Everett, MA3.4 mi · 49,075 people · home $610,000
- Revere, MA4.2 mi · 62,186 people · home $597,400
- Chelsea, MA4.3 mi · 40,787 people · home $493,500
Melrose questions
Is Melrose, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melrose scores better for retirees than 50% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 7%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Melrose?
The median owner-occupied home in Melrose is valued at $822,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,953, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $1,970 a month.
What is the weather like in Melrose?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.0 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Melrose get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)