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City · 29,650 residents · Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Melrose , Massachusetts

In Melrose, a typical home is worth $822,900 and typical rent is $1,970 a month. Compared with all of Middlesex County, the typical home value is 13% higher, typical rent is 10% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $822,900

    13% above the county

    46% above Massachusetts

    • Melrose
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $1,970a month

    10% below the county

    12% above Massachusetts

    • Melrose
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $133,953a year

    2% above the county

    29% above Massachusetts

    • Melrose
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    67%

    6 points above the county

    5 points above Massachusetts

    • Melrose
    • Middlesex
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$908,086
4.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$3,031 a month
3.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Melrose is in Middlesex County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Middlesex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Melrose apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Saugus, the typical home value is $603,400: 27% less than in Melrose ($822,900).

  2. 67% of households in Melrose own their home, against 61% in Middlesex County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Melrose

What homes there are in Melrose, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Melrose, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Middlesex County, 5.

Year built

The typical home in Melrose was built before 1940, the oldest group the Census tells apart; 70% of homes date from before 1960.

Much as in Middlesex County, 56% of homes in Melrose have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,213 a month

Middlesex County: $3,224 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,124 a month

Middlesex County: $1,211 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Middlesex County: 66%

In Melrose, 67% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $3,213 a month, about the same as in Middlesex County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Melrose rose at about the same pace as in Middlesex County: 44% against 45%.

The typical rent in Melrose rose 30% over the same time; in Middlesex County, it rose 35%.

The typical household income in Melrose rose 25%: less than home values (+44%) and rent (+30%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMelroseMiddlesex CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.4%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.372.492.442.53
Drive alone 49%54%61%69%
Carpool 5%6%7%9%
Public transit 12%7%7%3%
Walk or bike 2%6%5%3%
Work from home 30%25%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Middlesex County, a household in Melrose has 2.37 people on average.

In Melrose, 12% of workers get to work by public transit; in Middlesex County, 7%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Melrose?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Melrose, worth $822,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 61% of the typical household income in Melrose, which is $133,953 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $291,916 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Middlesex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Melrose. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $28,802 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$6,811

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$807,995
Total interest
$1,162,515
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $13,897 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,126 a month

  • Tight

    $3,126 to $4,019 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,019 a month

    Your payment · 61%

Compared with the typical household income in Melrose ($133,953 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$6,811
Principal & interest$5,474
Property tax$631
Home insurance$343
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$364

You need at least $28,802 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Melrose and Middlesex County

Melrose is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Melrose's own numbers

Typical home value
$822,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,970
Typical yearly household income
$133,953
Households that own their home
67%
Effective property tax rate
0.92%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Middlesex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,383–$3,008
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Middlesex County.

Everything about Middlesex County

Buying

Buying a home in Melrose

A typical home in Melrose is worth $822,900: 13% above the county and 46% above Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Melrose ($133,953 a year), a typical home costs 6.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Melrose 6.1 years
  • Middlesex 5.6 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Middlesex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Middlesex County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Middlesex County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Melrose next to Middlesex County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Melrose $822,900
  • Middlesex $727,800
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Melrose $1,970
  • Middlesex $2,201
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Melrose $133,953
  • Middlesex $130,847
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Melrose next to Middlesex County and Massachusetts
Measure Melrose Middlesex County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $822,900 $727,800 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,970 $2,201 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $133,953 $130,847 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 67% 61% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $7,578 $7,501 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.92% 1.03% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 47% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Middlesex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Melrose

For a typical $822,900 home in Melrose, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Melrose's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $6,811a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $28,802
    Cash to close
    $53,489
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $364

  • Conventional, 5% down $6,661a month

    Down payment
    $41,145
    Cash to close
    $65,832
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $391

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $5,433a month

    Down payment
    $164,580
    Cash to close
    $189,267
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $6,194a month

    Down payment
    $123,435
    Cash to close
    $148,122
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Melrose and for Middlesex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Melrose

0.92%of the home’s value each year

$7,578 a year for the typical owner in Melrose.

  • Melrose 0.92%
  • Middlesex 1.03%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Middlesex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Middlesex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1%
4,035
Of those, with NFIP insurance
54%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 54% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Melrose

Typical rent in Melrose is $1,970 a month: 10% below the county. In Melrose, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Middlesex County; Melrose is in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,008 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $57.85 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,440 $46.92 $97,600
1 bedroom $2,518 $48.42 $100,720
2 bedrooms $3,008 $57.85 $120,320
3 bedrooms $3,584 $68.92 $143,360
4 bedrooms $3,953 $76.02 $158,120

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $2,383 to $3,008. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Middlesex County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveMelrose is in this area
44 towns in this area

Acton town, Arlington town, Ashby town, Ashland town, Ayer town, Bedford town, Belmont town, Boxborough town, Burlington town, Cambridge city, Carlisle town, Concord town, Everett city, Framingham city, Holliston town, Hopkinton town, Hudson town, Lexington town, Lincoln town, Littleton town, Malden city, Marlborough city, Maynard town, Medford city, Melrose city, Natick town, Newton city, North Reading town, Reading town, Sherborn town, Shirley town, Somerville city, Stoneham town, Stow town, Sudbury town, Townsend town, Wakefield town, Waltham city, Watertown city, Wayland town, Weston town, Wilmington town, Winchester town, Woburn city

 $2,440$2,518$3,008$3,584$3,953$57.85
Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
10 towns in this area

Billerica town, Chelmsford town, Dracut town, Dunstable town, Groton town, Lowell city, Pepperell town, Tewksbury town, Tyngsborough town, Westford town

 $1,659$1,831$2,383$2,878$3,132$45.83

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Melrose

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Melrose is in ZIP code 02176.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,820.

  • 02176 $2,820$3,360

A ZIP code counts for Melrose when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Melrose

HUD lists 2 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Melrose. These are the largest.

  • Cong Retirement Homes LLC 200 W Foster St, Melrose 02176 318 homes, 237 low-income · For older adults
  • Cefalo Memorial Complex 245 W Wyoming Ave, Melrose 02176 107 low-income homes · For older adults

See all 311 buildings in Middlesex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Melrose

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 5 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Middlesex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Melrose

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Melrose or Middlesex County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Melrose the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Melrose

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Melrose, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Service Network, Inc.

    91 Summer St, Stoneham · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (781) 438-9254

  • Credit Card MGMT Svcs, Inc D/B/A Debthelper.com

    400 W Cummings Park, Woburn · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 3 more
    (561) 472-8000

  • Chelsea Restoration Corporation

    154 Pearl St Ofc 2, Chelsea · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (617) 889-2277

Every agency in Middlesex County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Melrose

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Melrose

HUD’s record names them for Melrose or Middlesex County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

34 other authorities have an office in Middlesex County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Middlesex County

These cities are also in Middlesex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Middlesex County Housing in Massachusetts
See 14 more cities in Middlesex County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Melrose, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Middlesex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Melrose.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Melrose

Short answers with the numbers for Melrose and all of Middlesex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Melrose?

The typical home value in Melrose is $822,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Middlesex County it is $727,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Melrose?

Typical rent in Melrose is $1,970 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Middlesex County is $2,383–$3,008.

What is the FHA loan limit in Melrose?

Melrose uses the FHA limit for all of Middlesex County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Melrose?

The typical homeowner in Melrose pays $7,578 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.92% of the home’s value; in Middlesex County, the rate is 1.03%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Melrose?

There are 5 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Middlesex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).