© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Malden.
About
Life in Malden
If you're considering Malden, understand that you're looking at a genuine urban neighborhood rather than suburban living—all 5.1 square miles are classified as urban, and the population density reflects that. The Orange Line subway connection to downtown Boston is a real asset for commuters, though your average trip takes about 36 minutes. Housing here isn't cheap: median home values around $633,500 and median rent at $2,204 monthly put it squarely in the Boston metro market.
Malden at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.4%
Foreign-Born
41.2%
Broadband Internet
94.3%
of households
Population Growth
+0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics41.2% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Malden: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Malden, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (22.7%), and 14.8% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
18.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
44.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.52
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Malden
In Malden, rent runs 25% above the MA average, and home values are 13% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,995
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $667,723 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Malden
Unemployment in Malden is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Malden Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute34.4 min avg
How Malden residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Malden, most residents drive alone to work (42%), and 39% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 39% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Malden runs 39% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
202.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,202.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Malden Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Malden, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Malden is about 4% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Malden, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Malden is about 4% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Malden has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.5"
Annual Snowfall
49.2"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
92
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 23°F | 3.39" |
| Feb | 39°F | 25°F | 3.21" |
| Mar | 46°F | 31°F | 4.17" |
| Apr | 56°F | 41°F | 3.63" |
| May | 67°F | 50°F | 3.25" |
| Jun | 76°F | 60°F | 3.89" |
| Jul | 82°F | 66°F | 3.27" |
| Aug | 80°F | 65°F | 3.23" |
| Sep | 73°F | 58°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 62°F | 48°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 52°F | 38°F | 3.66" |
| Dec | 42°F | 29°F | 4.30" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Malden
Uninsured
4.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Malden's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Melrose
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Winchester
Cambridge Health Alliance
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Cambridge
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Malden
Malden's student/teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Malden (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
8.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Boston National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Malden
Malden has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Boston National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Boston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
10 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayPublic Libraries in Malden
Malden Public Library
36 Salem St., Malden
Cities Near Malden
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Malden?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Malden FAQ
Is Malden, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Malden's median rent is $2,204/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $100,606/year. Median home value is $633,500.
Is Malden, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Malden's violent crime rate was 203 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1203 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Malden, Massachusetts?⌄
Malden has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Malden, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Malden is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,204/month and median household income is $100,606/year. The median home value is $633,500. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Malden, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Malden is 34 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from