What are the schools like in Malden, MA?

Malden is served primarily by Malden. The district operates 5 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Malden?

The median household income in Malden, MA is $90,295 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

Malden, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Malden, MA affordable or expensive?

Malden's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Malden is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $570,600 and the median rent is $1,962 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Malden, MA?

Malden has a violent crime rate of 292.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1179.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Malden, MA?

Malden has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.2 inches.

Is Malden, MA a Good Place to Live?

Malden is a mid-sized city of 65,463 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $90,295 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Malden stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Malden is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Malden city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Malden's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Malden costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Malden, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$570,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,962	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$90,295	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Malden's violent crime rate is 292.2 per 100,000 residents — 23% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

292.2 /100k

Property Crime

1179.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Malden is served primarily by Malden. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Malden, MA	National Avg
School District	Malden	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Malden sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 50.5 inches of annual precipitation and 49.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Malden, MA
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	82.1°F
Annual Precipitation	50.5"
Annual Snowfall	49.2"

Demographics

Metric	Malden, MA	National Avg
Population	65,463	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	36.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	48.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	13.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.6%	18.9%
Asian	27.5%	6.3%
Under 18	18.4%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Everett, MA 2 mi Melrose, MA 2 mi Medford, MA 3 mi Chelsea, MA 3 mi Somerville, MA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Malden

Malden, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

02148

Malden vs Other Cities

Malden, MA vs Everett, MA Malden, MA vs Melrose, MA Malden, MA vs Medford, MA Malden, MA vs Chelsea, MA Malden, MA vs Somerville, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Malden, MA affordable or expensive?

Malden's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Malden roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $570,600 and median rent is $1,962/month.

What is the crime rate in Malden, MA?

Malden's violent crime rate is 292.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1179.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Malden?

Public schools in Malden are operated by Malden. The district has 5 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 43.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Malden, MA a good place to live?

Malden, MA has a population of 65,463, a median household income of $90,295, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Malden?

Malden averages 36.8°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.5 inches with about 49.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Malden?

Malden, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 02148.

What is the population of Malden?

The population of Malden, Massachusetts is 65,463 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Malden?

Key numbers for living in Malden: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $570,600, median household income $90,295, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Malden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.