MetricChelsea, MAMalden, MA
Population39,90865,906
Median Household Income$72,179$100,606
Median Rent$1,956/mo$2,204/mo
Median Home Value$493,500$633,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)108108
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income57.8%48.6%
Poverty Rate20.7%11.4%
Unemployment Rate4.9%4.1%
Violent Crime Rate /100k791203
Property Crime Rate /100k1,4151,203
Median AQI3738
Good AQI Days /yr279299
Summer Highs80°F80°F
Winter Lows26°F26°F
Snowfall49 in/yr49 in/yr
Avg Commute32.9 min34.4 min
Hospitals——
Avg Hospital Rating——
Students per Teacher12.514.1
College Degree Rate22.2%45.1%
Foreign-Born %46.1%41.2%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-1.5%+0.1%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.