United States › Massachusetts › Melrose CITY · 2020 ACS
Melrose Massachusetts · 29,817 residents · 4.68 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 29,817 people, Melrose is a city in Massachusetts. This is an unusually credentialed place: 61% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $599,600, having more than doubled since 2000. Median household income runs $114,604, well clear of the $66,278 US median. That is roughly 36% ahead of the Massachusetts median. The average commute runs 37 minutes.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
61% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K 27K 28K 29K 30K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Melrose Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $114,604
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,811 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $30,347 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 53.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 2.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.7%
Transportation & warehousing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
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$599,600
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $252,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,638
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $760 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 67.0% in 2000
36.7% rent
from 2.50 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 94.5%(25,640)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 79.6%(23,736)
Hispanic / Latino 4.5%(1,353)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 31 more ancestry groups with data from 40.1% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 91.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 19.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 69.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 70.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 51.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 2.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 33.1%(4,054)
Women 15+
Never married 25.2%(3,164)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 2.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.4%(156)
Gulf War (1990s) 12.1%(103)
Share of the 849 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Melrose Head to head
Compare Melrose to nearby cities MELROSE VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Melrose, Massachusetts? Melrose, Massachusetts has about 29,817 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Melrose, Massachusetts? The typical household in Melrose, Massachusetts earns about $114,604 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 $599,600, and the typical rent is about $1,638 a month.
How educated are people in Melrose, Massachusetts? About 61.1% 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 3.9% of people in Melrose, Massachusetts live below the federal poverty line.
Has Melrose, Massachusetts grown since 1990? Yes, Melrose, Massachusetts has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,667 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.
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