Malden, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 65,906 Household income: $100,606 Rent: $2,204

Overview

Total population

65,906

Rent

$2,204

Year built

1950

Household income

$100,606

Per capita income

$48,581

Poverty rate

11.4%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

65,906

Adults over 25

48,235

Total households

26,042

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$100,606

Per capita income

$48,581

Poverty rate

11.4%

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Rent over 30% of income

48.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,204

Year built

1950

Households that rent

58.7%

Households that own

41.3%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

40.2%

Black

13.7%

Asian

28.1%

Two or more races

12%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

9.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

90.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

80.2%

Commute time to work

34 mins

Work from home

19.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.1%

High school graduate or GED

22.1%

Some college or associate degree

8.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

45.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Malden, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Malden, MA

Total population65,906

Rent$2,204

Year built1950

Household income$100,606

Per capita income$48,581

Poverty rate11.4%

Unemployment rate3.5%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityMalden, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	65,906	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$2,204	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1950	1964	1980
Household income	$100,606	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$48,581	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.4%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Malden, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Malden, MA

Malden is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Malden, the typical monthly rent is $2,204 and the typical household income is $100,606. Rent here is higher than both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is similar to Massachusetts and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11.4%, which is higher than the Massachusetts rate but lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 58.7% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 48.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 45.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is lower than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Malden, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Malden, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Malden, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,204	18 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$100,606	8 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	11.4%	10 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	4 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Malden, MA

Rent

Rent prices put Malden in 18th place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Malden comes in 8th among 23 major places. Across Massachusetts, income levels vary from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Malden is ranked 10th among 23 major areas. Across Massachusetts, poverty runs from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Malden ranks 4th out of 23 significant areas. Across Massachusetts, unemployment varies from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Malden, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,204 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Malden, MA

Annual Household Income: $100,606

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Malden, MA

Estimated Rate: 11.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Malden, MA

In Malden, MA, households that rent: 15,298 (58.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	15,298	58.7%
Owner-Occupied	10,744	41.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Malden, MA

In Malden, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,431 (48.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,431	48.6%
Other renter households	7,867	51.4%
Total renter households	15,298	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Malden, MA

Less than High School: 11,635 people (24.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,679 people (22.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,181 people (8.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 21,740 people (45.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 48,235

📊 Unemployment Rate in Malden, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Janesville, WI65,813 Ames, IA66,112 Novi, MI66,224 Oshkosh, WI66,247 Conway, AR66,288 Victoria, TX65,514 Alpharetta, GA66,355 Queen Creek, AZ66,369 Union City, NJ66,375 Sammamish, WA66,375

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.