MetricMedford, MAMalden, MA
Population59,35465,906
Median Household Income$129,540$100,606
Median Rent$2,509/mo$2,204/mo
Median Home Value$755,500$633,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)108108
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income38.7%48.6%
Poverty Rate7.6%11.4%
Unemployment Rate4%4.1%
Violent Crime Rate /100k181203
Property Crime Rate /100k9331,203
Median AQI3838
Good AQI Days /yr299299
Summer Highs80°F80°F
Winter Lows26°F26°F
Snowfall49 in/yr49 in/yr
Avg Commute30.2 min34.4 min
Hospitals——
Avg Hospital Rating——
Students per Teacher10.414.1
College Degree Rate59.8%45.1%
Foreign-Born %23.3%41.2%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+0.1%+0.1%

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