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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Melrose

Massachusetts · 28,150 residents · 4.683 sq mi
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The short version

Melrose is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $44,109. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $195,400. Poverty is rare here, at 4.2% of residents.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.0
US median: 33.0
More educated
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,150
+4%vs 2000
vs 27,134 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
37.0
−6%vs 2000
vs 39.4 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K27K28K29K30K1990201020202024Melrose
202430K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.1%(1,706)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96%(1,703)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145%(1,409)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 195.9%(1,656)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.8%(1,923)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.9%(4,753)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4416.6%(4,660)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.8%(3,036)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.1%(2,562)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.4%(2,378)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.8%(1,637)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.6%(727)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,109
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $62,811 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,202
−33%vs 2000
vs $30,347 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
4.2%
+0.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$195,400
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $252,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$628
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $760 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
65.4%
−1.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 67.0% in 2000
34.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Melrose on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(25,640)
Black0.9%(246)
Hispanic / Latino1%(283)
Asian2%(545)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic98.4%(27,705)
Black0.6%(157)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(169)
Asian0.7%(211)
Other0.3%(77)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.9%(281)
Guatemalan0.8%(223)
Mexican0.7%(196)
Dominican0.6%(173)
Salvadoran0.6%(170)
Colombian0.6%(169)
Chilean0.3%(99)
Cuban0.1%(36)
Nicaraguan0.1%(23)
Panamanian0.1%(18)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Spaniard0.1%(17)
Honduran0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Chinese4.1%(1,217)
Vietnamese2.8%(827)
Asian Indian1.4%(413)
Nepalese0.7%(220)
Korean0.4%(118)
Cambodian0.3%(82)
Filipino0.2%(55)
Taiwanese0.1%(43)
Bangladeshi0.1%(36)
Japanese0.1%(28)
Thai0.1%(27)
Burmese0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(1)
Ancestry
Irish27.8%(8,253)
Italian15.8%(4,692)
English11.3%(3,362)
German8.5%(2,511)
Polish4%(1,175)
Arab3.2%(951)
Scottish2.4%(724)
French2.2%(661)
Moroccan2.1%(633)
American2%(606)
Swedish1.7%(494)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Russian1.5%(436)
Brazilian1.3%(394)
Greek1.3%(383)
Portuguese1.1%(319)
Lithuanian1%(288)
Canadian0.8%(249)
Welsh0.7%(219)
Norwegian0.6%(181)
Danish0.6%(166)
West Indian0.6%(166)
British0.5%(159)
Dutch0.5%(158)
Haitian0.5%(158)
Hungarian0.4%(133)
Ukrainian0.4%(132)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(110)
Romanian0.3%(87)
Bulgarian0.2%(68)
Armenian0.2%(65)
Austrian0.2%(65)
Macedonian0.2%(65)
Ghanaian0.2%(64)
Iranian0.2%(54)
Slovak0.2%(53)
Finnish0.2%(48)
Kenyan0.1%(42)
Slovene0.1%(31)
Israeli0.1%(26)
Nigerian0%(14)
Egyptian0%(12)
Syrian0%(12)
Czech0%(12)
Latvian0%(7)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Chinese population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.4%
−8.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 40.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
87.7%
−3.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 91.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
11.9%
−3.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.0% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+14%vs 2000
vs 19.7 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.1%(4,054)
Married57.2%(7,010)
Widowed3.3%(410)
Divorced6.4%(784)
Women 15+
Never married25.2%(3,164)
Married55%(6,910)
Widowed7.6%(951)
Divorced12.3%(1,546)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Melrose, Massachusetts?

Melrose, Massachusetts has about 28,150 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Melrose, Massachusetts?

The typical household in Melrose, Massachusetts earns about $44,109 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Melrose, Massachusetts expensive?

In Melrose, Massachusetts, the median home is worth about $195,400, and the typical rent is about $628 a month.

How educated are people in Melrose, Massachusetts?

About 31.4% of adults age 25 and over in Melrose, Massachusetts hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Melrose, Massachusetts?

About 4.2% of people in Melrose, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →